Oregon State Golf Camp - Oregon State University

Oregon State Golf Camp

Brian Watts, Men's Golf Coach

Brian Watts is in his sixth season as the head men’s golf coach at Oregon State University and his 10th season overall with the program. With Watts at the helm, the Beavers are poised to continue their tradition of excellence for years to come.

Watts led the Beavers to a third-place finish in the highly competitive Pac-10 Conference in 2002 and the team qualified for the 2003 NCAA West Regional. His players have earned Pac-10 All-Academic honors 19 times in the last five seasons. During the 2004-05 season, his squad won two tournaments and posted the best three-round team score in school history, and the 2005-06 squad successfully defended its Northwest Collegiate Classic title.

Prior to taking the reins at OSU, Watts was an assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s teams from 1995-97 and 1999-2001. The highlight came at the end of the 2000-01 campaign, when the men’s squad used a run late in the year to advance to the NCAA Championships, where they finished in a tie for 12th.

During Watts’ tenure as assistant coach, the men’s and women’s programs enjoyed great results. The women advanced to the NCAA West Regional all three years of his second stint. The men’s squad did the same and won three tournaments over that span and placed in the top three in four other events.

"We are very fortunate it didn’t take long to find the right person to fill the void in our men’s golf program," then-OSU Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart said of Watts’ hiring in June of 2001. "Brian has great knowledge of the Pacific Northwest, which will allow for a smooth transition. We look forward to continued success with Brian at the helm."

Prior to his first tour as assistant coach at OSU, Watts spent four years on various professional tours, including the Golden State Tour, the Space Coast Tour and the Canadian PGA Tour.

Watts brings a wealth of experience to the program from his years on professional tours, but equally important is his familiarity with Northwest recruiting and the use of OSU’s state-of-the-art facilities.

"Having the opportunity to coach Division I student-athletes is great," he said. "Our goal is to help develop their talent and skills in the classroom and on the golf course. If they choose to play professional golf, they will be prepared for the next level. If they decide another path, then Oregon State University has prepared them for success off the course."

Hard work, believing in yourself and a burning desire to succeed are the three elements that lie in the core of Watts’ coaching philosophy and approach to life.

"If you look at anyone who has success, they have all three of these characteristics," Watts said. "These three things will make you successful not only on the golf course, but in life."

After attending Oregon State for one year, Watts earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Western Oregon State College (now Western Oregon University) in 1989.

Watts and his wife Carrie have three daughters: Madeline (11), Olivia (9) and Alexandra (5).