Herbst Academic Center
Watson, LaTonya
LaTonya Watson
- Title:
- Associate Director of Academics
- Email:
- latonya.watson@colorado.edu
- Phone:
- 303-492-1599
LaTonya Watson, a veteran basketball coach and teacher, including several memorable years with the Colorado women’s basketball program, is an Associate Director for Academics with the Herbst Academic Center, taking on the role on May 9, 2022.
Watson’s duties include planning, coordinating and monitoring the academic services provided to volleyball and football – specifically the offensive linemen, cornerbacks and safeties. She also serves as the liaison with the Program of Environmental Design.
Watson, who earned her master of science degree in Organizational Leadership (MSOL) from CU in May 2021, is in her third tour of duty with the Colorado Athletic Department. She was an assistant women’s basketball coach under Ceal Barry from 1996-2005 and returned to Boulder in a similar capacity from 2011-14 on Linda Lappe’s staff. Watson spent much of that time as the team’s liaison with the Herbst Academic Center.
Prior joining the Herbst Academic Center in a full-time capacity, Watson spent 30 years in coaching, primarily in collegiate women’s basketball, and the last eight years along the East Coast. Most recently, Watson was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) for four seasons (2018-22). She helped the Highlanders to one of their most successful seasons in the program’s NCAA Division I era in 2021-22, earning the No. 4 seed in the 2022 America East Conference Tournament and advancing to the tournament’s semifinals.
While at NJIT, Watson served on the America East Conference Spread Respect Advisory Group in 2020-21. She mentored a pair of all-conference performers in Kenna Squier and Elizabeth Litwinko.
Watson spent three seasons as the head women’s basketball coach at New Haven (2015-18), guiding the Chargers to the Northeast-10 Conference semifinals in her first season. While at New Haven, 85 percent of Watson’s student-athletes (17 of 20) were selected to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll at least once. She had a CoSIDA Academic All-American in Briana Bradford, two Academic All-District performers and three Northeast-10 All-Conference selections.
Watson spent one season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Bucknell in 2014-15, helping the Bison to an 18-12 record and a fourth-place finish in the Patriot League.
During Watson’s second term as a Colorado assistant, she helped the Buffaloes to three postseason tournaments; the 2013 NCAA Tournament and 2012 & ’14 WNIT. She joined Lappe, whom she coached during her first stint with the Buffaloes, on May 16, 2011, after serving three years as an assistant coach at American University (2008-11) and three years coaching and teaching in the prep ranks in Georgia. Watson’s return to Boulder came just in time to assist the Buffaloes into their first year in the Pac-12 Conference. Ironically, Watson's first season at Colorado coincided with the formation of the Big 12 Conference in 1996.
The Buffaloes had a fantastic year in 2012-13 with the help of Watson. Colorado was 25-7 overall and finished fourth in the Pac-12 Conference at 13-5. The Buffaloes advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 13th time in team history and first since 2004, when Watson was on the staff of Barry’s final NCAA Tournament squad. Additionally, Colorado enjoyed its first national ranking since 2008, reaching as high as No 18 in the Associated Press and WBCA Coaches polls.
Watson helped to develop one of the most dynamic back courts in team history. She helped Chucky Jeffery earn back-to-back All-Pac-12 first team honors and was later selected by the Minnesota Lynx in the second round of the 2013 WBNA Draft. Watson also helped develop Brittany Wilson, a member of the 2013 All-Pac-12 Defensive Team, into one of the premier defenders in the league.
At American, Watson assisted the Eagles to a three-year record of 63-31 (.670), back-to-back Patriot League regular season titles (2010, '11), consecutive appearances in the league tournament championship game (2010, '11) and repeat appearances in the Postseason WNIT (2009, '10).
Watson coached American's perimeter players while also serving as the recruiting coordinator. She handled many facets of the Eagles' program including opponent scheduling, scouting, recruit travel and organizing community service projects. Watson developed three players to conference honors as the wing positional coach, including two-time all-league selection and 2010 Patriot League Player of the Year Michelle Kirk.
Prior to joining the American staff, Watson spent two years as a math instructor and head girls basketball coach at Chamblee (Ga.) Charter High School (2006-08) and one campaign as a math teacher and assistant varsity girls coach at Meadowcreek High School in Norcross, Ga. (2005-06). At Chamblee, Watson led her team to a two-year record of 34-18. During her two-year tenure, Chamblee increased its number of wins by 17 and Watson helped two players obtain college basketball scholarships. Her team was named the DeKalb County AAA Team of the Month in January 2008.
Watson's first stint with Colorado spanned nine successful seasons, sporting a record of 152-92 and five NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2002 Elite Eight. She was the academic liaison on Barry's staff, working closely with the Herbst Academic Center in monitoring and mentoring the academic needs of the program. Watson helped the team achieve a Top 25 ranking on the 1999 WBCA Team Honor Roll. During her coaching tenure 92 percent (22 of 24) of all players graduated.
Watson is a 1992 graduate of Eastern Michigan University where she majored in mathematics and minored in English Language and Literature and played point guard for then-head coach Cheryl Getz from 1988-92. A 1992 All-Mid American Conference second team pick, Watson graduated ranking second in assists (446) and seventh in points (1,296) on the school's career lists. She was also a three-time Academic All-MAC selection, a member of the 1989 MAC All-Freshman team and earned honorable mention to the 1991 all-league squad. In 2021, Watson was inducted into the Eastern Michigan E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame.
She began her coaching career in 1992 as a graduate assistant at EMU. After the 1992-93 season, she coached the girls volleyball, basketball and track teams at Dunbar Middle School in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1995 her responsibilities transferred to Dunbar's high school team where she was an assistant. From August 1995 until her initial hire at CU, she was a high school math teacher at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Watson is married to Mona Wheeler.
Watson’s duties include planning, coordinating and monitoring the academic services provided to volleyball and football – specifically the offensive linemen, cornerbacks and safeties. She also serves as the liaison with the Program of Environmental Design.
Watson, who earned her master of science degree in Organizational Leadership (MSOL) from CU in May 2021, is in her third tour of duty with the Colorado Athletic Department. She was an assistant women’s basketball coach under Ceal Barry from 1996-2005 and returned to Boulder in a similar capacity from 2011-14 on Linda Lappe’s staff. Watson spent much of that time as the team’s liaison with the Herbst Academic Center.
Prior joining the Herbst Academic Center in a full-time capacity, Watson spent 30 years in coaching, primarily in collegiate women’s basketball, and the last eight years along the East Coast. Most recently, Watson was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) for four seasons (2018-22). She helped the Highlanders to one of their most successful seasons in the program’s NCAA Division I era in 2021-22, earning the No. 4 seed in the 2022 America East Conference Tournament and advancing to the tournament’s semifinals.
While at NJIT, Watson served on the America East Conference Spread Respect Advisory Group in 2020-21. She mentored a pair of all-conference performers in Kenna Squier and Elizabeth Litwinko.
Watson spent three seasons as the head women’s basketball coach at New Haven (2015-18), guiding the Chargers to the Northeast-10 Conference semifinals in her first season. While at New Haven, 85 percent of Watson’s student-athletes (17 of 20) were selected to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll at least once. She had a CoSIDA Academic All-American in Briana Bradford, two Academic All-District performers and three Northeast-10 All-Conference selections.
Watson spent one season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Bucknell in 2014-15, helping the Bison to an 18-12 record and a fourth-place finish in the Patriot League.
During Watson’s second term as a Colorado assistant, she helped the Buffaloes to three postseason tournaments; the 2013 NCAA Tournament and 2012 & ’14 WNIT. She joined Lappe, whom she coached during her first stint with the Buffaloes, on May 16, 2011, after serving three years as an assistant coach at American University (2008-11) and three years coaching and teaching in the prep ranks in Georgia. Watson’s return to Boulder came just in time to assist the Buffaloes into their first year in the Pac-12 Conference. Ironically, Watson's first season at Colorado coincided with the formation of the Big 12 Conference in 1996.
The Buffaloes had a fantastic year in 2012-13 with the help of Watson. Colorado was 25-7 overall and finished fourth in the Pac-12 Conference at 13-5. The Buffaloes advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 13th time in team history and first since 2004, when Watson was on the staff of Barry’s final NCAA Tournament squad. Additionally, Colorado enjoyed its first national ranking since 2008, reaching as high as No 18 in the Associated Press and WBCA Coaches polls.
Watson helped to develop one of the most dynamic back courts in team history. She helped Chucky Jeffery earn back-to-back All-Pac-12 first team honors and was later selected by the Minnesota Lynx in the second round of the 2013 WBNA Draft. Watson also helped develop Brittany Wilson, a member of the 2013 All-Pac-12 Defensive Team, into one of the premier defenders in the league.
At American, Watson assisted the Eagles to a three-year record of 63-31 (.670), back-to-back Patriot League regular season titles (2010, '11), consecutive appearances in the league tournament championship game (2010, '11) and repeat appearances in the Postseason WNIT (2009, '10).
Watson coached American's perimeter players while also serving as the recruiting coordinator. She handled many facets of the Eagles' program including opponent scheduling, scouting, recruit travel and organizing community service projects. Watson developed three players to conference honors as the wing positional coach, including two-time all-league selection and 2010 Patriot League Player of the Year Michelle Kirk.
Prior to joining the American staff, Watson spent two years as a math instructor and head girls basketball coach at Chamblee (Ga.) Charter High School (2006-08) and one campaign as a math teacher and assistant varsity girls coach at Meadowcreek High School in Norcross, Ga. (2005-06). At Chamblee, Watson led her team to a two-year record of 34-18. During her two-year tenure, Chamblee increased its number of wins by 17 and Watson helped two players obtain college basketball scholarships. Her team was named the DeKalb County AAA Team of the Month in January 2008.
Watson's first stint with Colorado spanned nine successful seasons, sporting a record of 152-92 and five NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2002 Elite Eight. She was the academic liaison on Barry's staff, working closely with the Herbst Academic Center in monitoring and mentoring the academic needs of the program. Watson helped the team achieve a Top 25 ranking on the 1999 WBCA Team Honor Roll. During her coaching tenure 92 percent (22 of 24) of all players graduated.
Watson is a 1992 graduate of Eastern Michigan University where she majored in mathematics and minored in English Language and Literature and played point guard for then-head coach Cheryl Getz from 1988-92. A 1992 All-Mid American Conference second team pick, Watson graduated ranking second in assists (446) and seventh in points (1,296) on the school's career lists. She was also a three-time Academic All-MAC selection, a member of the 1989 MAC All-Freshman team and earned honorable mention to the 1991 all-league squad. In 2021, Watson was inducted into the Eastern Michigan E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame.
She began her coaching career in 1992 as a graduate assistant at EMU. After the 1992-93 season, she coached the girls volleyball, basketball and track teams at Dunbar Middle School in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1995 her responsibilities transferred to Dunbar's high school team where she was an assistant. From August 1995 until her initial hire at CU, she was a high school math teacher at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Watson is married to Mona Wheeler.
Academic Recognition Closing
Thursday, April 05
Petter Reistad, Scholar-Athlete
Thursday, April 05
Naghede Abu, Byron R. White Leadership & Initiative Award
Thursday, April 05
Nancy Best, Student-Athlete Achievement Award
Thursday, April 05
