| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1936 (age 89–90) Seneca, Missouri, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1958–1960 | Tulsa |
| Position | Running back |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1961 | Seneca HS (MO) (assistant) |
| 1962–1964 | Joplin HS (MO) (assistant) |
| 1965–1971 | Drake (OC/QB/WR) |
| 1972 | Louisville (OC/QB/WR) |
| 1973–1981 | Indiana (OC/QB/WR) |
| 1982 | Kansas (OC/QB) |
| 1983 | LSU (QB) |
| 1984–1985 | Birmingham Stallions (QB) |
| 1986–1990 | Michigan State (OC) |
| 1991 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (QB) |
| 1992–1994 | Michigan State (AHC/OC) |
| 1995–1998 | LSU (OC) |
| 1999–2002 | Michigan State (OC) |
| 2002 | Michigan State (interim HC) |
| 2003 | Mississippi State (OC) |
| 2007–2008 | Broken Arrow HS (OK) (OC) |
| 2009 | Miami (OH) (QB) |
| 2010 | Miami (OH) (OC/QB) |
| 2011–2013 | Central Michigan (PGC/QB) |
| 2014–2016 | Central Michigan (OC/QB) |
| 2017 | Arkansas (analyst) |
| 2018 | Texas Southern (OC/QB) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 1–2 |
Morris Watts (born 1936) is an American formerfootball player and coach. Until his retirement in 2016, he was theoffensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach atCentral Michigan University. He previously served as the offensive coordinator atMiami University inOxford, Ohio, having joined theRedHawks coaching staff in 2009 as the quarterbacks coach. Morris served as the interim head coach atMichigan State University for the last three games of the 2002 season afterBobby Williams was fired, compiling a record of 1–2.
Morris served three stints at the offensive coordinator at Michigan State (1986–1990, 1992–1994, 1999–2002) and was an assistant coach atDrake University (1965–1971), theUniversity of Louisville (1972),Indiana University (1973–1981), theUniversity of Kansas (1982),Louisiana State University (1983, 1995–1998), andMississippi State University (2003). He coached quarterbacks for theBirmingham Stallions of theUnited States Football League (USFL) from 1984 to 1985 and for theTampa Bay Buccaneers of theNational Football League (NFL) in 1991. Before coming to Miami University, Watts spent two years at the offensive coordinator atBroken Arrow Senior High inBroken Arrow, Oklahoma.
Watts was theoffensive coordinator atMichigan State University for eight seasons during theGeorge Perles era, from 1986 to 1990 and 1992 to 1994. He rejoined the Spartans as a member ofNick Saban's coaching staff and became the interim head coach in 2002 whenBobby Williams was fired after guiding a pre-season top 20 team to a 3–6 start. During his brief stint as interim head coach, he was 1–2. Following the season, he left the Michigan State football program forMississippi State University. He also coached atLouisiana State University (LSU) as an offensive coordinator from 1995 to 1998.
Watts showed his dynamism when he was hired at Mississippi State by saying at his introduction, "We want to be an offense that is balanced. Does that mean out of 100 plays we'll pass 50 times and run 50 times? No! We may throw 70 and run 30 or we may run 70 and throw 30. We'd like to spread the field and give our kids the best chance to win".[1][2] In 2003, the Bulldogs were 2–10.
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State Spartans(Big Ten Conference)(2002) | |||||||||
| 2002 | Michigan State | 1–2* | 1–2* | T–8th | |||||
| Michigan State: | 1–2 | 1–2 | *Bobby Williams coached the first 9 games of the season. | ||||||
| Total: | 1–2 | ||||||||