RICHMOND, Va. -- Trumaine Watson is ready for this opportunity.
“Opportunity is huge,” stated Watson. “The only way you get an opportunity is to be able to speak to guys who do it on a pro level.”
Watson, who will begin his third season as the Offensive Line Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Virginia State University, has been invited to the NFL and Black College Hall of Fame Quarterback Coaching Summit.
“The game of Football is a who you know business,” Watson explained. “You got to take who you know and kind of use your own thing.”
In it’s third year, the summit is a two-day program designed to give coaches professional development and networking opportunities with NFL club executives. Something Watson, who is the only assistant coach from an HBCU invited to the program, believes is so crucial given the current landscape of the league.
“Your going to get a perfect opportunity to show what you know,” Watson mentioned. “You got to go prove who you are. And it’s even better because minority issues is a huge thing right now. That’s something that we have to stand for and it’s a perfect opportunity to say hey this is what I do, this is how I do it and I want to be good at it and show you I’m good at it.”
Entering the 2020 season, the NFL has just four minority Head Coaches. And in College Football, less than 15% of Head Coaches are minority.
“It’s been an ongoing situation for years,” Watson said. “What’s going on in America, I think it’s a perfect time for it. You get an opportunity for diversity, minority guys to sit down and say hey this is what is going on and change has to be made. Guys need opportunities.”
After being in the NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship intern program last year, Watson feels this summit will only enhance his coaching skills this season at VSU.
“One of things I learned was be where your feet are,” Watson expressed. “You can be a pro wherever you are and that’s one of the things I kind of brought back to Virginia State. I think it’s a great opportunity to say hey guys, small colleges, HBCU’s, they can lead, they can demand the rooms and they can coach the game of Football.”
