Levi Watkins is in his fourth year as assistant coach for the Rebels, having been hired by head coach Kermit Davis in April 2018.
 
Primarily coaching the post players, Watkins has been instrumental in the growth and production by the Ole Miss frontcourt.
 
After recruiting graduate transfer Romello White to Oxford, Watkins mentored the new Rebel as he embarked on a record-breaking 2020-21 season. White made an impact in his graduate season, breaking the school record for field goal percentage in a single season (64.9 percent). He also led the team in blocks (1.3 per game), which ranked ninth in the conference. Monitoring the pain and protecting the rim, Watkins’ big men helped Ole Miss lead the SEC in scoring defense.  
 
In his second season, KJ Buffen blossomed into a starting role to average 10.1 ppg and a team-high 6.1 rpg (17th in SEC). Watkins guided Khadim Sy in the transfer’s first season in Oxford, as the forward immediately contributed 9.0 ppg and 5.5 rpg.
 
In his first season with Davis, Watkins helped bring Ole Miss to the NCAA Tournament as part of one of the nation’s biggest turnaround seasons. Predicted to finish last in the SEC by the media, the Rebels tied for sixth with a 10-8 conference mark to go along with an overall record of 20-13. Ole Miss tallied a 78.3 free throw percentage, ranking fourth in the nation and setting a school record. The frontcourt of Bruce Stevens (86.7 percent) and Dominik Olejniczak (76.3 percent), coached by Watkins, played a big part in the team’s free throw shooting.
 
In the recruiting landscape, Watkins was pivotal in assembling one of the best classes in Ole Miss history. The 2019 class, the first full cycle for the new coaching staff, ranked top-20 nationally.
 
Before coming to Ole Miss, Watkins was an assistant coach at Arizona State for three seasons where he played a major role in all aspects of the program, including recruiting, player development, scouting and game preparation, academics and community relations. In Watkins’ final season at Arizona State, the Sun Devils were ranked as high as No. 3 in the AP poll (highest in school history) and was the last undefeated team in Division I men’s basketball. Arizona State went 12-0 in non-conference play and defeated two eventual 2018 NCAA Tournament No. 1 seeds (Kansas, Xavier). Arizona State was the only major conference team to lead their conference in scoring and turnover margin. Also in Watkins’ final season at Arizona State, the Sun Devils broke their home basketball attendance record and participated in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. 

Prior to Arizona State, Watkins spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University at Buffalo, where the Bulls went 42-20 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.

In Watkins’ final season at Buffalo he helped guide the University at Buffalo to its first MAC Championship and NCAA Tournament berth in addition to winning the MAC regular season title. Buffalo also tied the program’s highest win total (23) and finished with a program-best RPI of 29. The Bulls won 10 road games in 2014-15, the most in school history. Buffalo closed the season as the conference leader in scoring, scoring margin and assists.

In his first year with Buffalo, Watkins helped lead the Bulls to their first outright MAC East title, leading the conference in both scoring margin and assists and ranking second in scoring. Watkins worked primarily with the post players and in both seasons a post player won MAC Player of the Year honors. Forward Justin Moss, the 2015 MAC Player of the Year, led the conference in scoring and rebounding, while forward Javon McCrea became Buffalo’s all-time leading scorer and led the MAC in both scoring and rebounding during the 2013-14 season while under Watkins’ direction.

Prior to Buffalo, Watkins spent eight years as both the director of basketball operations and video coordinator at North Carolina State University (NC State). Watkins touched all facets of the program, including all day-to-day operations, recruiting, player academics, daily scheduling, and managing the program's video operations, including scouting, film edits, and exchanges. He also mentored student-athletes for academic, professional, and personal development.

In addition to serving in those capacities, Watkins served as the executive camp director, academic liaison, and administrative coordinator, as well as the liaison between men's basketball and various other athletic departments and campus units. During Watkins' tenure, the Wolfpack signed five top 15 nationally-ranked recruiting classes and a total of seven McDonald's All-Americans. He also had the opportunity to work with and/or for 12 Division I head coaches.

As a player, Watkins was part of the No. 1 high school recruiting class in 2001. Julius Hodge, the 2004 ACC Player of the Year and 2005 NBA 1st round pick, along with NBA veteran Josh Powell were in the same recruiting class as Watkins. Watkins played at NC State from 2002-05.

He helped lead the Wolfpack to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments, making NC State one of 21 teams in the country to do so at the time. NC State progressed to at least the second round in three of his four years, including the Sweet Sixteen during his senior season. He has been to a combined 10 NCAA Tournaments over the course of his playing and coaching careers.

While playing at the prestigious Montrose Christian High School in Rockville, Maryland, Watkins was a 2001 Parade All-American and led his team to a final top 25 national ranking. As a senior, Watkins was named the Gatorade and USA Today Maryland State Player of the Year.

Watkins graduated from North Carolina State University with a bachelor's degree in business management. He and his wife, Monica, have two children: Levi (III) and Leah.