Jason Watts began his collegiate lacrosse career in 2002 as a defenseman for the inaugural UM-Dearborn Men’s Lacrosse Team, where he also earned a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering. After two seasons as a player, he transitioned into coaching, starting as an assistant coach at Northville High School in 2003. In 2005, Watts returned to UM-Dearborn as an assistant coach and took over as Head Coach in 2009. Under Watts’ leadership, the Wolverines achieved their first-ever playoff appearance in 2013, earning him WHAC Coach of the Year honors.

He has since been honored with the WHAC Coach of Character Award in 2013, 2016, 2023, and 2024, recognizing his commitment to the NAIA’s core values of respect, responsibility, servant leadership, integrity, and sportsmanship. Watts played a pivotal role in transitioning UM-Dearborn Men’s Lacrosse from a club program to varsity status before the 2014 season. This transition elevated the program and opened new opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the collegiate level.

In addition to his coaching career, Watts enjoyed a decade-long post-collegiate playing career. He was part of the inaugural Detroit Coney Dogs Box Lacrosse Team in 2012 and helped lead Motor City to back-to-back MCLC Championships in 2016 and 2017. Watts currently resides in Metro Detroit with his family and works as a Senior Engineering Manager at a global Tier 1 automotive supplier. He is also deeply involved in youth lacrosse, coaching with The Premier Lacrosse Group and Downriver Lacrosse.