Gridiron Icons podcast: Bauxite's Jon Watson

By Kyle Sutherland 

Jon Watson was born and raised on his family's farm outside of Earle, where he learned the meaning of a hard day's work. He had an outstanding prep football career as an all-state offensive lineman who helped the Bulldogs go undefeated in 1968.

Watson attended Arkansas State, where he initially planned on earning his college degree in business but decided to go the physical education route due to advice from a friend. The rest is history. 

Upon graduating college as a "Student of Distinction" in 1974, Watson earned his first coaching job as an assistant under the late, great Bill Keedy at Paragould for a year before heading to Trumann, where he worked from 1976-80 as head junior high coach, as well as assisting the varsity. 

Watson's head-coaching debut came at now-defunct Gillett for seven years, where he led the Wolves to two semifinal playoff appearances. Following two uneventful seasons at Hampton, Watson finished his career with an illustrious run at Bauxite. 

Watson took the Miners to unprecedented heights, winning 177 games - the most in school history - and his 1994-96 teams went a combined 40-3. His 1995 squad went 14-1 and finished as the state runner-up before winning it all in 1996 with a record of 15-0. 

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