BEREA, OHIO -- Baldwin-Wallace College Head Football Coach John Snell has selected Tom Watts, formerly defensive coordinator at Westminster (Pa.) College, as the Yellow Jackets' new defensive backs and special teams coach. Watts represents the fourth generation of his family to either coach or play at The College.
"I couldn't be more excited to be a part of a program that has such a rich tradition like B-W's," said Watts. "B-W provides the whole package in what a Division III program should be and I'm looking forward to getting to know all of the guys and hit the ground running."
Watts coached at Westminster for one season and helped lead the Titans to their best conference finish since 2003. His defense produced five all-conference selections and led the league in red zone efficiency. Prior to his time at Westminster, Watts was the defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville from 2004 to 2007 and the co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach at Waynesburg (Pa.) College from 2002 to 2003.
Watts played collegiately at Hanover (Ind.) College from 1998 to 2002 as a strong safety and was a member of two conference championship teams. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education from Hanover in 2002 and a Masters Degree in education technology from Waynesburg in 2004.
Watts was a 1998 graduate of Cloverleaf High School in Lodi and was a standout receiver and safety for the Colts' football team.
The Watts family tradition at B-W began in 1928 with legendary coach and Athletic Director Ray E. Watts who posted a record of 104-58-14 in 21 seasons on the gridiron. Ray also compiled 246 wins in 23 seasons as head basketball coach and was an inaugural member of the B-W Athletics Hall of Fame. Wade Watts '40, Ray's son, was inducted into the BW Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978 after a fine football and basketball playing career and a successful run coaching high school football in northeast Ohio. Wade's son, Tom Sr., played football at B-W and was president of the class of 1966. He also found coaching success in the high school ranks throughout the area with stops at Strongsville, Midpark and North Olmsted, where he still serves as assistant principal.
The Yellow Jackets open the 2009 season on Saturday, September 5 when they host Heartland Athletic Conference powerhouse and 2008 NCAA Division III playoffs participant Franklin (Ind.) College at 1:30 p.m. on Tressel Field at The George Finnie Stadium in Berea.
FOR MORE B-W FOOTBALL INFORMATION, please contact B-W Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX machine at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. To contact Head Coach John Snell, please call him at 440-826-2069 or e-mail him at jsnell@bw.edu. To contact Tom Watts, please call him at 440-826-2073 or e-mail him at twatts@bw.edu.
