Justin Fitzgerald/sports@cherokeescout.com Longtime assistant Joseph Watson speaks after being named the Murphy varsity football team’s new head coach Friday.
Murphy – A new era for Bulldogs football officially started Friday, when offensive coordinator Joseph Watson was named the new head coach. He replaces the legendary David Gentry, who announced his retirement June 8.
“I am honored and privileged to be named the head coach for Murphy High School,” Watson said. “It’s not something I take lightly.”
Watson played under Gentry at Murphy, and since then has spent 19 years as a wide receiver and defensive backs coach, adding the title of offensive coordinator five years ago. In that time, the Bulldogs have won five N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A state championships, the most recent coming against Northside-Pinetown on May 8.
Joseph’s father, Wayne, was an assistant coach under Gentry during his early days at Murphy. Watson was Gentry’s personal choice to take over the program.
“What I like about Joseph is he handles kids real well,” Gentry said. “He talks to them all the time. That’s the most important part about coaching. It’s not what you know or how much you know, it’s how well you relate to the kids.”
The process moved quickly, with athletic director Ray Gutierrez recommending Watson to succeed Gentry at the Cherokee County Board of Education meeting Thursday, just three days after Gentry informed the players and staff he was retiring.
“After almost 20 years as an assistant, I’m confident coach Watson is ready,” Gutierrez said. “You won’t find a bigger Bulldog than coach Watson.”
For Watson, the goal is simple. He wants to build on Gentry’s legacy and keep competing for state championships.
“My plan at Murphy high school is to continue building the winning tradition that coach Gentry has set here at Murphy High School,” Watson said. “I want my players to continue to be working hard with integrity, on and off the field, making our school and community proud to be a Bulldog.”
Winning championships may be more of a challenge in the future because of things outside of Watson’s control. North Carolina is going back to one state championship for each of the four classifications instead of the two they’ve had for previous seasons.
Since 2001, Murphy has competed in class 1A, which features the smallest high schools in the state. Winners of the 1A Western regional have gone 15-5 in the state final under the two championship format, with the Smoky Mountain Conference winning the last five.
However, in the 1AA division, which features the bigger schools under the 1A umbrella, the Eastern Regional champion has won eight of the last nine state championships, with all eight won by double digits.
Watson will also have to find two new assistants, as defensive coordinator Thomas Nelson is moving on to a new role at Union County High School in Georgia and offensive line coach Gary Thompson is retiring. It won’t be easy to replace a legend, but Watson has plenty of experience and lessons to look back on as he watched Gentry build Murphy into one of the top programs in North Carolina.
“He’s been a great mentor and friend to me not only during those 19 years (as a coach), but through my entire life, Watson said. “I’ve learned so much about leadership and what it takes to run a successful
program.”