Coach Watkins was born and raised in Chattanooga TN. He is a 1984 graduate of Brainerd High School In Chattanooga. He played on the first State Championship team for the legendary Coach Robert High. He began his college basketball career at Kentucky State University, moved on to Hiwassee College and finished his last two years at Northwestern State University. He says his most memorable moment at Northwestern State was "when we beat Kentucky at Rupp Arena during my final season."
He served in the United States Army from 1990-1995. During his first year of service, he was offered a professional Basketball contract by a Bundesliga basketball team in Germany. He played for 2 different teams during his 5 years of service and was offered a long term contract from one team, however, the team required him to leave the military in order to devote more time to being a professional basketball player. He played professionally in Europe from 1990-2002.
He began his coaching career in the late 1990's while playing in Europe. He started coaching middle school aged girls and boys teams, then a high school girls team, a lower level men's team and then a women's semi- professional team. The teams had a great deal of success and he enjoyed teaching the game.
After retiring from playing basketball, he completed his Masters degree in Business/Marketing Education and his EDS degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Both were completed at MTSU in Murfreesboro,TN.
Coach Watkins began teaching at LFO in 2006.
He began coaching as an assistant at LFO in 2008. He has been the head coach since 2009.
Coach Watkins teaches Business, Technology and Marketing Classes at LFO.
He is married to Friederike Watkins. They have one son Anthony Watkins, 25 years old.
