Nicholas Watson has served as the director of equipment operations at Illinois State since 2009. Watson brings over 10 years of experience and extensive knowledge from his past positions. In his role with the football program, Watson is responsible for the ordering, organizing and distribution of equipment for the Redbird football players and coaches and also oversees Illinois State’s other equipment rooms.

Prior to coming to Illinois State, Watson served as the assistant equipment manager at Colorado State, where he had several responsibilities. Watson was in charge of coordinating the athletic equipment needs for student-athletes and coaches, while bidding, purchasing and ordering new equipment and uniforms. Watson was also responsible for daily operations and administration of the athletic equipment room. 

The Cascade, Va., native started at Colorado State in 2005 after a year of graduate school at Georgia Southern, where he served as the graduate assistant equipment manager. Watson earned his bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech in 2000, while serving as a student equipment manager for the Hokies. 

Watson became a certified equipment manager by Athletic Equipment Managers’ Association (AEMA) in 2005 and has been a member with the organization since 1997. He and his wife, Jamie, reside in Bloomington, Ill.