Jesse Watkins enters his 10th year as head coach of the Mariners and 26th overall in a coaching capacity. Watkins played for Coastal Georgia from 1990-92 under longtime head coach Gerald Cox. When he returned to the Golden Isles as an assistant coach, he was the first former player to work under Cox as a paid assistant. Watkins has over 20 years of coaching experience that includes scholastic, junior college, NAIA, and NCAA Division II experience.
Watkins took over the program in 2014 after the retirement of Coastal Georgia coaching legend Gerald Cox. Since taking over, Watkins has coached 15 All-Conference (SSAC & SUN) players, three NAIA All-Americans and five Conference All-Academic players.
2018-19 was the programs most successful year. Watkins led his squad to a program-high 17 wins on their way to a Sun Conference Championship Game appearance against Ave Maria. This performance came on the heals of the Mariners first winning season in the NAIA era, compiling a 16-13 overall mark in 2017-18.
Watkins was named the NAIA selection for Week 8 HoopDirt.com Coach of the Week presented by Just Play Solutions on Jan. 8, 2018, after guiding the Mariners to a pair of victories over nationally-ranked opponents.
Watkins guided the Mariners to their first postseason win of the NAIA era when Coastal Georgia won in the opening round of the 2016 Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament.
Watkins served as an administrator and head of player development at Evansville Basketball Academy in Evansville, Ind. He spent the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons as an assistant coach at Southern Indiana, helping the Screaming Eagles to a runner-up finish in the 2004 NCAA Division II National Tournament.
Watkins was also an assistant coach at Wabash Valley College for two seasons, including the 2000-01 season where Wabash Valley won the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship and was 36-1 for the year.
He helped Wabash Valley to a national semifinals berth and a 33-3 record for the 2001-02 season. While at Wabash, Watkins coached Tony Allen. Allen went on to be a six-time NBA All-Defensive Team member and won the NBA Championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008.
Watkins' first collegiate coaching position was at his alma mater, Lincoln Memorial from 1997-99. He was a graduate assistant coach. His first coaching job was for Pineville High School in Kentucky.
Watkins transferred to Lincoln Memorial for his final two seasons after starting his collegiate career at Coastal Georgia. During his time at Coastal Georgia Watkins played with Frankie King, a 1995 draft pick by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Watkins graduated from Lincoln Memorial with a degree in physical education and health. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education administration from Lincoln Memorial.
Watkins is married to Elizabeth, and the couple has two children – a daughter named Korie and a son named Jeremiah.
