KNIGHTDALE, N.C. – It was always going to be Knightdale for Antonio Watson.

When his playing days were over Watson knew he wanted to be a coach. More importantly, he knew he wanted to coach at Knightdale High School.

That’s where his uncle, Anthony Byrd, coached. Watson played under Byrd his final two years of high school, where a solid prep career led him to the collegiate level – first at Saint Augustine’s in Raleigh, then Bluefield State.

When he graduated from college he was immediately back at Knightdale High School. First he led the junior varsity team to two conference titles, then last year, he was moved up to the show.

Watson’s impact was felt immediately. The Knights finished second in the conference a year ago and advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

This year Knightdale earned some hardware, winning the 4A Northern Conference regular season title and advancing to the conference championship title game.

On Tuesday the Knights (18-7) will return to the postseason for the second straight season under Watson, his vision of returning his alma mater to glory coming to fruition.

“That was the main goal,” Watson said. “That was the main reason when I graduated (college), I called my uncle and told him I’d love to take over once he’s done. It means everything, getting Knightdale back to where we always were back in the day.”

Knightdale was 1-8 in league play during the 2021-22 season. They fared better in 2022-23 (10-15), but missed the postseason again. Enter Watson.

In year one the Knights were forced to be recon with, finishing second in the league and advancing to the second round of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs. This year, they took it a step further, dethroning Wake County power Millbrook to win the league championship.

That was a demon Watson was chasing, dating back to his playing days. As a senior, the Knights finished 11-3 in league play, finished second and made it to the third round of the postseason.

He had to make up for that championship that eluded him as a player this year on the sidelines.

‘Helped change my life’

As a high school player, Watson started his career at Enloe. At the end of his sophomore year, his father moved to the Knightdale area.

That next year was Byrd’s first year as the varsity coach at Knightdale. It was an opportunity to not only play for his uncle, but a fresh start.

“They welcomed me as a family,” Watson said. “Coming here, it really helped change my life.”

When he graduated college, he wanted to come back to Knightdale to give back and help make a difference, the same way it helped change his life. It feels good talking to the kids and they are looking back at one of their own.

“A fan came up to me and said ‘I don’t know if you know this, those guys play for you,’” Watson recalled. “He told me ‘as a fan, you can tell they believe in you and they’ll run through a wall for you. That means the world to me. Having guys who trust you. I see a lot of myself in a lot of guys in different ways.”

Watson not only coached a group of these guys on the JV level, but he was their coach in the Knightdale Park and Recreational League as well years ago.

“I think that helped out a lot, building chemistry,” Watson said.

Happening fast?

Watson volunteered at Knightdale the COVID year, his first time working with the team, with zero high school coaching experience.

He says from the first preseason workout he knew he was in the right place. The next year, the JV coach at the time didn’t return and Byrd felt it was time for his nephew to step into a coaching role.

Fast forward and Watson has three championships under his belt and Knightdale as a sleeper team in the 4A east.

Is he ahead of schedule?

“Fast, but I expected it,” Watson said. “I had those guys on JV, so I knew what they were capable of. I knew once we got rolling and picked it back up to where that Knightdale pride is, defensively, I knew these guys could compete with anybody.”