Former Pitt offensive coordinator Shawn Watson lands in Georgia
Shawn Watson, fired as Pitt’s offensive coordinator shortly after the season, has found work with SEC powerhouse Georgia.
He joins the Bulldogs as an offensive quality control analyst, working with new coordinator and quarterbacks coach James Coley, who was promoted after Jim Chaney, another former Pitt coordinator, left for the same job at Tennessee.
“Shawn brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with him after coaching the offensive side of the ball around the country during his career,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said in a statement. “He is an excellent addition to our staff and we are pleased to have him in Athens already.”
Watson replaces Jay Johnson, who was hired as the offensive coordinator at Colorado.
Watson spent two seasons at Pitt and helped develop junior-to-be Kenny Pickett into a starting quarterback as a freshman in 2017.
He has landed in a place where the team will be expected to win. Georgia was ranked No. 7 in the nation (tied with Florida) in the final Associated Press poll last season. The Bulldogs return junior quarterback Jake Fromm, 80 percent of the offensive line and leading rusher D’Andre Swift.
Watson, 59, has spent the past 33 years as an on-field coach in college.
Jerry DiPaola is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jerry at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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