Kansas State University Athletics
Track & Field
Watson, Greg
Greg Watson
- Title:
- Assistant Coach (Throws)
- Email:
- gwatson@kstatesports.com
- Phone:
- (785) 530-9045
Greg Watson returned to the K-State coaching staff as the assistant coach in charge of the throws program in July 2021. Watson, who is in his ninth season overall at K-State, previously led the throws program from 2013-18 before spending the last three years (2018-21) at LSU.
Since returning to Manhattan, Watson oversaw Kade McCall and Emma Robbins in the hammer throw to the 2023 Outdoor NCAA Championship. Robbins earned First Team All American honors in a fourth place finish, McCall earning Second Team All American honors in 14th place.
He coached K-State alum Janee' Kassanavoid in consecutive appearances in the World Athletics Championship, where she earned the bronze medal in Eugene, Ore., the first Native American woman to step on the podium for track and field. In 2023 she returned to the stage in Budapest, Hungary where she claimed the silver medal.
“My family and I are excited to return to Manhattan. I look forward to getting right to work with the student-athletes and recruiting future Wildcats,” said Watson. “I want to express my sincere gratitude to Coach Cliff Rovelto and (director of athletics) Gene Taylor for the opportunity to come home to K-State.”
Watson returned to K-State after spending three years (2018-21) at LSU as the assistant coach for throws. During his time at LSU, Watson helped lead the Tigers to the 2021 men’s team national title, while also coaching several prominent athletes, including 2021 NCAA champion Tzuriel Pedigo in the men’s javelin. Pedigo won LSU’s first national championship in the event since 1967, as his throw of 76.98m/252-7 established a new school record.
In addition to Pedigo, Watson helped junior Jake Norris and senior Jon Nerdal to top-4 finishes in the men’s hammer at the 2021 SEC Outdoor Championship, including a runner-up finish by Norris with a toss of 69.84m/229-2. Norris was also the runner-up in the weight throw at the 2019 SEC Indoor Championship with a mark of 21.47m/70-05.25. On the women’s side, he coached an SEC champion in the hammer, as freshman Emma Robbins broke a facility record with a throw of 67.17m/220-4 in 2021.
Prior to LSU, Watson spent five years (2013-18) at K-State where he had two throwers win NCAA titles (Shadae Lawrence and Dani Winters) while helping Winters post an indoor shot put record heave of 17.97m/58-11.50. In 2017, he coached Lawrence to the first national title in program history in the discus (61.37m/201-04). For his efforts, Watson was named the 2017 USTFCCCA Midwestern Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year.
During his first tenure at K-State, Watson was part of a coaching staff that helped guide the Wildcats to back-to-back Big 12 women’s team titles (2017, 2018) at the outdoor championships.
Watson still coaches the current K-State record holder in the women’s hammer throw and weight throw, Janee Kassanavoid, who recently finished fourth in the hammer at the Olympic Trials and currently ranks fifth all-time in the event in American history.
“We are glad he is coming back,” said Rovelto upon his re-hiring in July 2021. “When he was here previously, he did a great job developing athletes and we felt like he was a great fit for our program and Kansas State in general. We are excited to have him back with us.”
Watson coached at Texas State for two years (2011-13) before leaving for K-State. He helped the Bobcats to three conference titles while directly coaching eight individual conference champions and three school records.
Serving as the volunteer assistant coach at UNLV from 2008-13, Watson tutored future Olympian Amanda Bingson. Bingson earned the Mountain West Outstanding Performance Award in 2010 and 2011. Bingson clinched back-to-back USATF national titles in 2013 and 2014.
Within Watson’s 13 years of coaching, he has earned six conference team championship, one NCAA team championship and coached three individual NCAA national champions. Watson has also coached numerous NCAA All-Americans and individual conference champions.
Watson competed at Southern Utah where he set the school record in the hammer throw with a toss of 65.98m/216-06. Watson was able to train under the guidance of world-renowned throws coach Anatoliy Bondarchuk, where he won three Summit League Titles between the weight and hammer throw.
Since returning to Manhattan, Watson oversaw Kade McCall and Emma Robbins in the hammer throw to the 2023 Outdoor NCAA Championship. Robbins earned First Team All American honors in a fourth place finish, McCall earning Second Team All American honors in 14th place.
He coached K-State alum Janee' Kassanavoid in consecutive appearances in the World Athletics Championship, where she earned the bronze medal in Eugene, Ore., the first Native American woman to step on the podium for track and field. In 2023 she returned to the stage in Budapest, Hungary where she claimed the silver medal.
“My family and I are excited to return to Manhattan. I look forward to getting right to work with the student-athletes and recruiting future Wildcats,” said Watson. “I want to express my sincere gratitude to Coach Cliff Rovelto and (director of athletics) Gene Taylor for the opportunity to come home to K-State.”
Watson returned to K-State after spending three years (2018-21) at LSU as the assistant coach for throws. During his time at LSU, Watson helped lead the Tigers to the 2021 men’s team national title, while also coaching several prominent athletes, including 2021 NCAA champion Tzuriel Pedigo in the men’s javelin. Pedigo won LSU’s first national championship in the event since 1967, as his throw of 76.98m/252-7 established a new school record.
In addition to Pedigo, Watson helped junior Jake Norris and senior Jon Nerdal to top-4 finishes in the men’s hammer at the 2021 SEC Outdoor Championship, including a runner-up finish by Norris with a toss of 69.84m/229-2. Norris was also the runner-up in the weight throw at the 2019 SEC Indoor Championship with a mark of 21.47m/70-05.25. On the women’s side, he coached an SEC champion in the hammer, as freshman Emma Robbins broke a facility record with a throw of 67.17m/220-4 in 2021.
Prior to LSU, Watson spent five years (2013-18) at K-State where he had two throwers win NCAA titles (Shadae Lawrence and Dani Winters) while helping Winters post an indoor shot put record heave of 17.97m/58-11.50. In 2017, he coached Lawrence to the first national title in program history in the discus (61.37m/201-04). For his efforts, Watson was named the 2017 USTFCCCA Midwestern Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year.
During his first tenure at K-State, Watson was part of a coaching staff that helped guide the Wildcats to back-to-back Big 12 women’s team titles (2017, 2018) at the outdoor championships.
Watson still coaches the current K-State record holder in the women’s hammer throw and weight throw, Janee Kassanavoid, who recently finished fourth in the hammer at the Olympic Trials and currently ranks fifth all-time in the event in American history.
“We are glad he is coming back,” said Rovelto upon his re-hiring in July 2021. “When he was here previously, he did a great job developing athletes and we felt like he was a great fit for our program and Kansas State in general. We are excited to have him back with us.”
Watson coached at Texas State for two years (2011-13) before leaving for K-State. He helped the Bobcats to three conference titles while directly coaching eight individual conference champions and three school records.
Serving as the volunteer assistant coach at UNLV from 2008-13, Watson tutored future Olympian Amanda Bingson. Bingson earned the Mountain West Outstanding Performance Award in 2010 and 2011. Bingson clinched back-to-back USATF national titles in 2013 and 2014.
Within Watson’s 13 years of coaching, he has earned six conference team championship, one NCAA team championship and coached three individual NCAA national champions. Watson has also coached numerous NCAA All-Americans and individual conference champions.
Watson competed at Southern Utah where he set the school record in the hammer throw with a toss of 65.98m/216-06. Watson was able to train under the guidance of world-renowned throws coach Anatoliy Bondarchuk, where he won three Summit League Titles between the weight and hammer throw.
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