Shane Watson ends his coaching stint with San Fransisco Unicorns in MLC after three seasons at the helm in USA.
Shane Watson ends coaching stint with San Francisco Unicorns.
After serving as the Major League Cricket (MLC) team’s head coach for three years, former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has left the San Francisco Unicorns.
Under Watson, the Unicorns advanced to the playoffs in 2024 and 2025 after finishing fifth out of six teams in the first MLC in 2023. Their greatest result was in 2024, when they were defeated by the Washington Freedom in the championship game.
The Unicorns have not announced Watson’s successor yet. “In an effort to strengthen the Unicorns’ long-term strategy, the organization is shifting to a year-round coaching model,” the franchise said in a statement. “Watson’s ongoing commentary commitments and the rapid growth of his acclaimed performance coaching brand, BEON Performance, prevent him from taking on a full-time role with the Unicorns.”
“It has been a true privilege to lead the San Francisco Unicorns over the last three seasons,” Watson said. “I’m proud of what we accomplished, and am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with world-class stars and incredible young talent in Major League Cricket, which continues to be an exciting new frontier for the sport.”
In addition to his time with the Unicorns, Watson has coached in other franchise leagues. In 2022 and 2023, he served as the assistant coach for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and in 2024, he was the head coach of the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
“Shane was the natural choice to be our first Head Coach, and he played a key role in building the Unicorns from the ground up,” Unicorns CEO David White said. “We are eternally grateful for Shane’s dedication across his three seasons in charge, and the Unicorns wish him every success in his future endeavors.”