Florence native makes return to Death Valley

Coaching against your alma mater might be a distraction.

For Justin Watts, it definitely won’t be his only one this week as the Middle Tennessee assistant coach gets ready to face Clemson on Saturday.

That’s because Watts has had other things to keep him occupied. His wife gave birth to their first child, Chase Michael, just 12 days ago.

“It’s going good,” Watts said Tuesday. “Just learn to go on little sleep, but we aren’t the first parents to be tired parents.”

Saturday’s game will be the second time the former South Florence standout has returned to Death Valley since his playing and coaching days finished. Watts was a receiver and graduate assistant at Clemson from 1996-2002.

Watts is downplaying his return along with the other members of the Blue Raider program who have Clemson ties. Nine staff members, including head coach Rick Stockstill, have worked for the university in some capacity.

“It’s not going to be any different. It’s not going to be the first time a coach has faced a team where he has played at. I won’t be catching any passes and Willie Simmons will not be throwing them,” Watts said. “We aren’t going to let emotions get involved with it.

“We are just finally excited to get the season started and a chance for our kids to play in a big-time atmosphere.”

At Clemson, Watts finished his career with 51 catches for 561 yards and was with the team for four bowl appearances.

But the memory Watts cherishes most from his playing days is watching teammate Rod Gardner haul in a 49-yard pass to set up Aaron Hunt’s game-winning field goal to beat South Carolina 16-14 in 2000.

“That stands out above all the rest,” said Watts, who had two catches for 14 yards in that game.

Many South Carolina fans still say Gardner pushed off on the play, but Watts says that’s not the case.

“It was just good body position,” he said. “Rod along with Woody Dantzler just had that ability come up with the big-time plays when you needed it.”

After Watts’ playing days finished, he decided to get into coaching, something he was familiar with growing up. Watts’ dad, Mike, coached at South Florence and is now the athletic director.

Justin Watts spent two years as a graduate assistant under Tommy Bowden before joining former Clemson assistant Rodney Allison’s staff at Chattanooga for three seasons.

Then Watts followed Stockstill, his position coach at Clemson, when he took over at Middle Tennessee in 2006. The Blue Raiders won the Sun Belt Conference championship that year and played in the Motor City Bowl against Western Michigan.

“Coach Stockstill is a great guy to be around and he really makes it fun,” Watts said. “And we are excited what we are doing here. We have done things other big programs have done, like play in bowl games, won a championship and been on national TV.”

Watts is in charge of coaching the receivers and recruiting for the Blue Raiders, a big task for someone who won’t turn 32 until October.

But Watts, who will be coaching from the booth instead of the sideline this year, says he is enjoying the process and hopes it will lead to a coordinator or head coaching job in the future.

“I’m definitely happy where I’m at,” he said. “But I would love to take over a program some day. As a coach in this business it’s something you dream about.”

Notes

• Former South Florence standout Adam Wade is the long snapper for the Blue Raiders and has appeared in every game the last two seasons.
  
• Former Clemson assistants are 0-6 against the Tigers at Memorial Stadium.
  
• In addition to Watts and Stockstill, other Middle Tennessee coaches with Clemson ties include Les Herrin (defensive line), Willie Simmons (running backs) and David Bibee (safeties).