By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Former Washburn All-American linebacker Zach Watkins is returning to his alma mater to be the co-defensive coordinator after spending the last three seasons as an assistant at Fort Hays State where he coached the defensive line for two seasons and the inside linebackers for one.

Washburn made the announcement Monday on their website.

Watkins was a four-year starter at linebacker for Washburn from 2006-09 under current Fort Hays State head coach Chris Brown and defensive coordinator Cooper Harris. He put together a historic career for the Ichabods, registering 100 or more tackles in each season, compiling a school record 473 for his career. That mark also places him third all-time in NCAA Division II history.

Watkins, a native of Independence, Mo., graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Washburnin December of 2009 and completed his master’s degree in Sports Administration at Fort Hays State University in 2013.