TCU Stocks Up on Former UW Players and Coaches, Hires Tre Watson
![Former UW defensive back Tre Watson has moved from California to TCU as a secondary coach. Former UW defensive back Tre Watson has moved from California to TCU as a secondary coach.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_1536,h_864,x_0,y_365/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/inside_the_huskies/01jjjkkyjs5k7fn0rhmv.jpg)
Tre Watson, former University of Washington defensive back during the Sarkisian era, joined the TCU staff as safeties and nickelbacks coach on Monday, adding to the increasing Husky influence on this Texas team.
He comes to the Horned Frogs after they recently promoted Julius "Juice" Brown, former UW cornerbacks coach on the DeBoer staff, from defensive analyst to a full-time job supervising the corners, who now include ex-Husky starter Elijah Jackson ready to spend a sixth and final college football season in Fort Worth.
All of this has happened since Cooper McDonald, former UW edge rusher, used up his final year of eligibility this past season at TCU, with a stop at San Diego State in between.
Watson joins Sonny Dykes' team in the same manner the head coach came to TCU -- from California. Dykes, however, was fired in 2016 by the Bears and hired by TCU on the rebound, while Watson spent four years with Justin Wilcox's staff, building a reputation that brought him to Texas.
✍️ OFFICIAL
— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) January 27, 2025
Tre Watson will be the new Safeties/Nickels Coach & Passing Game Coordinator for the Horned Frogs!#GoFrogs | #BleedPurple pic.twitter.com/rU386TJkLc
From Kennedy Catholic High School in the greater Seattle area, Watson played a season each at West Hllls Community College (California) and at Central Washington before coming to the UW as a walk-on. After redshirting, he earned a scholarship and played different secondary roles for the Huskies in 2012-2013.
He teamed on defense with standout players such as fellow corner Marcus Peters, defensive tackle Danny Shelton, edge rusher Hau'oli Kikaha and lineback Shaq Thompson, all NFL bound.
Ex Husky defensive back, joining former UW DB coach Juice Brown ... https://t.co/10a6VffKKv
— Washington Huskies on SI (@UWFanNation) January 26, 2025
Watson started six games over two seasons in Montlake, with his biggest Husky moment coming when he took an 84-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 59-7 victory over Colorado during his senior year.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Oregon in 2018-19, received his first full-time coaching job at UNLV in 2020 and joined Cal the following season.
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