Football
Watts, Bert
Bert Watts
- Title:
- Assistant Coach (Linebackers)
- Email:
- rowatts@csufresno.edu
- Phone:
- 559-278-3015
Last updated: June 19, 2019
Bert Watts enters his third season at Fresno State and second as the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator.
In year one leading the defense in place of Jeff Tedford’s first defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer - now head coach of the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats - the Bulldogs’ production on defense was just as impressive in year two of the Tedford era as opponents were held to 14.1 points per game, a season after teams were limited to 17.9 points per game.
Fresno State, a 12-2 team and Mountain West Champions, finished the 2018 season ranked in the Top 10 in the FBS in several statistical categories under Watts, including red zone defense (1st), scoring defense (3rd), passes intercepted (4th), team passing efficiency defense (5th) as well as turnover margin (9th).
En route to grinding out a 19-16 overtime win at Boise State for the Bulldogs’ first Mountain West title since 2013, the defense produced key stop after key stop. In the middle of it was Mykal Walker, the MVP of the game. He led the defense with 12 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.
In addition, 2018 saw linebacker Jeff Allison named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. He was the second Bulldog to earn MW Defensive Player of the Year honors dating back to 2012 when consensus All-American safety Phillip Thomas took home the award. Fresno State also saw Walker and Tank Kelly named first team All-MW selelctions.
As Fresno State’s linebackers coach in 2017, Watts was instrumental in the rise in level of play in the middle of the Bulldogs’ defense that led to the team ranking 10th in the FBS in scoring defense at 17.9 points per game and 15th in total defense with 320.6 yards allowed per game. Jeff Allison and George Helmuth ranked 1-2 on the team in tackles as both shattered their previous highs with 126 and 89, respectively.
Allison garnered first team All-Mountain West accolades as he became a force in the middle of the field, making the ninth-most stops in a season at Fresno State, and most since 2007. His total of 126 tackles was 105 more than his first year. Helmuth had a breakout season under Watts, posting 65 more tackles in 2017 than he had during his previous two seasons combined.
Watts came to Fresno State after four seasons as the defensive coordinator at UC Davis under Aggie head football coach Ron Gould; his position group focus was with the defensive backs.
Watts’ history with Jeff Tedford dates back to his playing days at Cal, and later as a graduate assistant at Cal.
Watts’ first season overseeing the UC Davis defense in 2013 resulted in four of his players earning postseason recognition from the Big Sky Conference while it added two the next season and five more honors from the conference in 2016.
In 2012, defensive lineman Nick King was a second-team pick after amassing eight sacks, cornerback Jonathan Perkins had four pass breakups on his way to third-team accolades, linebacker Steven Pitts earned honorable mention after tallying 74 tackles and 11.5 TFLs, and cornerback Shamawn Wright was selected honorable mention after leading the team with nine PBUs. Pitts returned to the All-Big Sky honorable mention squad in 2014 and was joined by safety Charles Boyett.
In 2016, defensive tackle Inoke Raikadroka was named a second-team selection after compiling 24 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1.0 sacks and one fumble recovery in nine games played. Defensive tackle Zak Pettit, inside linebacker Nas Anesi, cornerback Keleen Culberson and safety Zach Jones earned honorable mention recognition.
Watts joined the UC Davis staff after gaining coaching experience at the collegiate level and overseas. Watts spent 2012 with the Denver Broncos, who went on to earn the top seed in the AFC playoffs. Prior to that, he spent two seasons at the University of Colorado as the Buffaloes’ defensive technical intern.
Watts, who also coached two years of high school football in Florida, was the defensive coordinator for the Raiffeisen Vikings in Austria in 2007.
He moved into coaching after playing for Cal, where he led the Bears with 80 tackles as a senior in 2002. The starting senior safety was the leading tackler for that season, which was Tedford’s first Golden Bear football team. Following his final season, the three-year letterman was the recipient of the team’s Joe Roth Award, given to the player that exemplifies superior courage, attitude and sportsmanship.
The Basking Ridge, N.J. native continued his football career as a graduate assistant coach under Tedford during the 2004 and 2005 seasons - helping the team to a combined 18-6 mark, including a 10-2 season in 2004 that ended with a berth in the Holiday Bowl.
Watts earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from California and is married to Lyndsay Graubard. They have a 4-year-old son, Vedder.
Coaching Experience:
2018: Fresno State – defensive coordinator
2017: Fresno State – linebackers
2013-16: UC Davis – defensive coordinator
2012: Denver Broncos – staff assistant
2010-11: Colorado – defensive technical intern
2009: Bishop Kenny HS (Fla.) – defensive coordinator
2008: Bartram Trial HS (Fla.) – defensive backs
2007: Raiffeisen Vikings (Austria) – defensive coordinator
2004-05: California – defensive graduate assistant
Alma Mater: California (2003)
Bert Watts enters his third season at Fresno State and second as the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator.
In year one leading the defense in place of Jeff Tedford’s first defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer - now head coach of the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats - the Bulldogs’ production on defense was just as impressive in year two of the Tedford era as opponents were held to 14.1 points per game, a season after teams were limited to 17.9 points per game.
Fresno State, a 12-2 team and Mountain West Champions, finished the 2018 season ranked in the Top 10 in the FBS in several statistical categories under Watts, including red zone defense (1st), scoring defense (3rd), passes intercepted (4th), team passing efficiency defense (5th) as well as turnover margin (9th).
En route to grinding out a 19-16 overtime win at Boise State for the Bulldogs’ first Mountain West title since 2013, the defense produced key stop after key stop. In the middle of it was Mykal Walker, the MVP of the game. He led the defense with 12 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.
In addition, 2018 saw linebacker Jeff Allison named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. He was the second Bulldog to earn MW Defensive Player of the Year honors dating back to 2012 when consensus All-American safety Phillip Thomas took home the award. Fresno State also saw Walker and Tank Kelly named first team All-MW selelctions.
As Fresno State’s linebackers coach in 2017, Watts was instrumental in the rise in level of play in the middle of the Bulldogs’ defense that led to the team ranking 10th in the FBS in scoring defense at 17.9 points per game and 15th in total defense with 320.6 yards allowed per game. Jeff Allison and George Helmuth ranked 1-2 on the team in tackles as both shattered their previous highs with 126 and 89, respectively.
Allison garnered first team All-Mountain West accolades as he became a force in the middle of the field, making the ninth-most stops in a season at Fresno State, and most since 2007. His total of 126 tackles was 105 more than his first year. Helmuth had a breakout season under Watts, posting 65 more tackles in 2017 than he had during his previous two seasons combined.
Watts came to Fresno State after four seasons as the defensive coordinator at UC Davis under Aggie head football coach Ron Gould; his position group focus was with the defensive backs.
Watts’ history with Jeff Tedford dates back to his playing days at Cal, and later as a graduate assistant at Cal.
Watts’ first season overseeing the UC Davis defense in 2013 resulted in four of his players earning postseason recognition from the Big Sky Conference while it added two the next season and five more honors from the conference in 2016.
In 2012, defensive lineman Nick King was a second-team pick after amassing eight sacks, cornerback Jonathan Perkins had four pass breakups on his way to third-team accolades, linebacker Steven Pitts earned honorable mention after tallying 74 tackles and 11.5 TFLs, and cornerback Shamawn Wright was selected honorable mention after leading the team with nine PBUs. Pitts returned to the All-Big Sky honorable mention squad in 2014 and was joined by safety Charles Boyett.
In 2016, defensive tackle Inoke Raikadroka was named a second-team selection after compiling 24 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1.0 sacks and one fumble recovery in nine games played. Defensive tackle Zak Pettit, inside linebacker Nas Anesi, cornerback Keleen Culberson and safety Zach Jones earned honorable mention recognition.
Watts joined the UC Davis staff after gaining coaching experience at the collegiate level and overseas. Watts spent 2012 with the Denver Broncos, who went on to earn the top seed in the AFC playoffs. Prior to that, he spent two seasons at the University of Colorado as the Buffaloes’ defensive technical intern.
Watts, who also coached two years of high school football in Florida, was the defensive coordinator for the Raiffeisen Vikings in Austria in 2007.
He moved into coaching after playing for Cal, where he led the Bears with 80 tackles as a senior in 2002. The starting senior safety was the leading tackler for that season, which was Tedford’s first Golden Bear football team. Following his final season, the three-year letterman was the recipient of the team’s Joe Roth Award, given to the player that exemplifies superior courage, attitude and sportsmanship.
The Basking Ridge, N.J. native continued his football career as a graduate assistant coach under Tedford during the 2004 and 2005 seasons - helping the team to a combined 18-6 mark, including a 10-2 season in 2004 that ended with a berth in the Holiday Bowl.
Watts earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from California and is married to Lyndsay Graubard. They have a 4-year-old son, Vedder.
Coaching Experience:
2018: Fresno State – defensive coordinator
2017: Fresno State – linebackers
2013-16: UC Davis – defensive coordinator
2012: Denver Broncos – staff assistant
2010-11: Colorado – defensive technical intern
2009: Bishop Kenny HS (Fla.) – defensive coordinator
2008: Bartram Trial HS (Fla.) – defensive backs
2007: Raiffeisen Vikings (Austria) – defensive coordinator
2004-05: California – defensive graduate assistant
Alma Mater: California (2003)
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