Brian Watts Named Oregon State Men’s Golf Head Coach

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Brian Watts, who led Oregon State to five NCAA Regional appearances, is returning to the program as the Beavers' head coach, Vice President and Director of Athletics Kevin Griffin announced on Wednesday.

Watts served as Oregon State's head coach for nine seasons from 2001 to 2010, guiding the Beavers to regional appearances in 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. He led OSU to a 16^th-place finish at the 2010 NCAA Championships.

"I am excited to announce that Brian will be returning to Corvallis as our next head coach," Griffin said. "He had significant success during a nine-year tenure at Oregon State, then seven years at Army West Point, and is a well-respected coach and mentor in the golf community. Oregon State is fortunate to have him return to lead this program."

Watts led the Army West Point program from 2010-17, which included three more postseason appearances and a 2015 selection as Northeast Region Coach of the Year.

"I'm humbled, honored and fired up to lead the Oregon State men's golf team," Watts said. "I want to thank Kevin Griffin for his belief in me and for the opportunity to represent this program on and off the course.

"Oregon State is a special place and I know that finding the right student-athletes who embrace the everyday challenges of college life and collegiate athletics will be important. In doing so, we will be successful. I look forward to continue building on Jon Reehoorn's success as his teams were accomplished in the classroom and on the golf course. After my conversation with Kevin and the athletics leadership team, it was clear that Oregon State's vision and values align with my own. "

Watts' first tenure as Oregon State's head coach saw the Beavers claim eight tournament titles, while his golfers won 11 tournaments individually.

Diego Velasquez had one of the most historic careers in the program's history under Watts' tutelage, posting a school-record eight top-10 finishes to go along with three tournament victories, two of which came during the 2008-09 season. He ended his career with a 72.06 scoring average, which now ranks third at Oregon State, and is due in large part to his then-school record 70.31 average in 2009-10.

The individual career record holder for the Beavers, James Allenby, also competed under Watts. He played in 67 rounds over two seasons, averaging 71.46 shots per round.

Allenby (2008) and Velasquez (2010) were each named All-Americans during Watts' tenure. Velasquez was selected as a first-teamer by the GCAA and Golfweek.

Watts also mentored current professional Paul Peterson, who recently finished fifth at the Puerto Rico Open and 11^th at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic. Peterson's 2008-09 season saw him average 71.85 strokes per round, among the top-20 seasons in Oregon State history.

Army, meanwhile, had five Patriot League individual champions in Watts' tenure and he led the program to two conference titles. He went on to lead the Black Knights to five more finishes in the top three of the Patriot League Championships.

Watts mentored current PGA Tour competitor Marcus Plunkett during his time in New York. Plunkett was a three-time All-Patriot League selection and earned its Rookie of the Year honor in 2013.

The Reedsport, Ore., native worked with Second Nine Golf after his tenure at Army, then took over as the athletic director role at Reedsport High School from 2022-2025. He has also led Coach Watts Consulting since May of 2020.

He served as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's golf teams at Oregon State prior to being named the program's head coach. He also spent four years competing on various professional tours, including the Golden State Tour, the Space Coast Tour and the Canadian PGA Tour.

He spent one season as a recruited football player for the Beavers before transferring to Western Oregon State College (new Western Oregon) in 1989.

Watts' appointment is contingent on the completion of all university hiring processes.

Watts is married to Missy. He has four children: Brian, Madeline (married to Alex), Olivia and Alexandra.

What They're Saying

"I will always be grateful for the opportunity to play for Coach Watts at Oregon State. His emphasis on character, accountability, and pursuing excellence helped shape my approach to leadership and has been a guiding influence throughout my nearly 20-year career at Nike. Just as importantly, the values he instilled in his players continue to impact how I approach life and parenthood today."
- Brad Simpson, Oregon State letterwinner (2004-05)

"Coach Watts played a pivotal role in shaping my character and development. He excels at building disciplined, tight-knit programs rooted in hard work, accountability, and a genuine sense of family. His deep understanding of the game and elite coaching ability is unmatched. I place complete trust in him as a coach, mentor, and lifelong friend."
- Marcus Plunkett, professional golfer, Army West Point letterwinner (2012-16)

"From the moment he recruited me all the way to present day, Coach Watts has wanted the best for me along with every other player I watched him recruit. He establishes a fantastic culture within the program. I wouldn't be the man I am today without the lessons I learned being a part of his team. The lessons he taught us are applicable both on and off the course and I can't think of a better person to coach the current and future players who attend the Oregon State University Men's Golf Program.

'The city of Corvallis and OSU are so lucky to have someone like Coach Watts returning to the program. He brings a ton of experience recruiting talent and has the ability to turn those players into the best men and golfers they can be. As an alum, I couldn't be happier to have Coach Watts continue the momentum that Coach Reehoorn has created over the past decade with the program and cannot wait to see what the future holds for this team."
– Paul Peterson, professional golfer, Oregon State letterwinner (2007-10)

"Coach Watts was like my second father and was the main reason I chose Oregon State over my other options. He believed in me since day one and always cared about my well-being. He always made me go the extra mile and pushed me to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. He is a mentor and a great friend. Coach Watts is always willing to help others. He will do anything to help you be successful on and off the course. His charisma and personality are what set him apart from other coaches."
– Diego Velasquez, Oregon State letterwinner (2007-10)

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Brian Watts Named Oregon State Men’s Golf Head Coach

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