Nova Southeastern University Director of Athletics Michael Mominey announced the hiring of Matt Watts on January 20, 2016 to take over as head coach of the Sharks’ men’s soccer program for the 2017-2018 campaign. In Watts’ first season at the helm in 2016, the Sharks defeated eventual Gulf South Conference Tournament champion West Alabama along with Sunshine State Conference foes Barry and Saint Leo. The win against Saint Leo marked NSU’s first victory over the Lions since 2010. Faycal Oulahbib tallied two goals in that particular match en route to SSC Offensive Player of the Week honors, the first SSC weekly recognition for any player in three years.
Watts joined the NSU coaching staff after very successful stints over the past five years as the head coach at two prominent South Region contenders Alabama-Huntsville and Delta State. As he has demonstrated time and time again, Watts will be looking to turnaround the Sharks’ men’s soccer program that has finished below .500 the past four seasons.
Upon arriving at Alabama-Huntsville in January 2013, Watts took over a Chargers’ men’s soccer team that had finished the 2012 season with only one win. In less than a year, he turned the program around and guided UAH to a 10-win season. In his three seasons at UAH, Watts has accumulated a 33-16-3 overall record and a .683 winning percentage. He has also taken the program to new heights with the team receiving NSCAA top-25 rankings for the first time in 18 years in both 2014 and 2015. For his success on the field, he was been recognized as the GSC Coach of the Year in 2015.
With a keen eye for recognizing superb talent, in three seasons Watts managed to recruit and coach two Gulf South Conference Freshmen of the Year, two GSC Players of the Year, 20 GSC All-Conference, 22 All-Region and one All-American student-athlete. He also recognizes those who achieve in the classroom helping his student-athletes achieve a 3.02 GPA to earn UAH’s first-ever NSCAA Academic Excellence award.
Watts has an extensive player career as an amateur, collegiate and professional. Before coming stateside, he played for Norwich City F.C. from 2002-2004. As a collegian, he spent one season at SUNY-Oneonta, one season at SSC rival Lynn (2006) and finished his career at the University of Mobile (2007-2008) where he was a two team All-GCAC, All-Region and All-American selection. In 2008, he was named GCAC Player of the Year. In 2008-09, he played in the professional development league for the Panama City Pirates.
In addition to his many coaching and playing accolades, Watts holds an FA Level 2 Certificate, NSCAA National Diploma, NSCAA Advanced National Diploma and a NSCAA Premier Diploma. He holds a bachelors degree in communication studies/advertising/public relations from the University of Mobile and a masters in health, leisure and exercise from the Department of Physical Education from the University of West Florida.