Brewster announces Watson as WR coach

When finalizing a coaching staff that has seen significant turnover, Gophers head football coach Tim Brewster went for familiarity in picking the next wide receivers coach.
Steve Watson played and worked for the Denver Broncos — Brewster coached from 2005 to 2006 — for 17 seasons, eight as a coach and nine as a player.
“Steve and I coached together with the Denver Broncos and in that time, I developed a real admiration of him as both a coach and a person,” Brewster said in a press release. “He is an outstanding teacher of fundamental wide receiver play, and I expect our players will benefit greatly from his experience.”
Watson was a defensive assistant for the 2001 and 2002 seasons before becoming the Broncos wide receivers coach for 2003-2006.
In that capacity, Watson had three 1,000-plus yard receivers, including Rod Smith, who caught for 1,000 yards twice.
“I’m very familiar with the Minnesota football program,” Watson said in a press release. “I’m very excited to team back up with coach Brewster. After coaching with him in Denver, I know what football means to him. It’s physical, it’s fun and it’s getting after people.”
Watson was named wide receivers coach 11 days after Brewster announced Richard Hightower would not return to the team, the latest in a flurry of coaching moves.
Running backs coach Thomas Hammock was promoted to co-offensive coordinator, working alongside newcomer Jeff Horton . The offensive coordinator position opened up after Jedd Fisch took a job as the quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks.
Watson and Horton will both bring NFL experience to the sidelines, as Horton worked last season as quarterbacks coa ch for the Detroit Lions.
Watson will have the task of mentoring the Gophers receiving core which will lose its top player, Eric Decker.