New Softball Coach Casey Watt Continues Family Tradition

As Hartnell’s new head softball coach, Casey Watt has stepped into shoes that her father, Andy Watt, filled for 28 years before retiring in 2018.

She proudly counts her dad among a handful of prized coaching mentors and was just 3 days old when she attended her first Panthers softball game.

“I’ve been able to learn from some great coaches along my way, one of them being my dad, who I’ve been able to help coach,” Watt said. “I’ve been around coaching for my entire life.”

In fact, the Salinas High School graduate comes from a long line of coaches, going back to her great-grandfather, who coached football at Gilroy High School.

Watt herself has several years of assistant coaching experience. After helping San Jose State University win two softball titles as a four-season outfielder who hit .303, she was an assistant at Menlo College from 2017-19 before rejoining the Spartans staff in 2019-20.

“We feel extremely fortunate to have Casey join our head coaching staff,” said Dan Teresa, dean of academic affairs for athletics, physical education and health. “She has enormous passion for softball, and she obviously grew up with the game.”

Now Watt is busy pulling together players from Hartnell’s 2020 team, whose season was cut short by COVID-19, while seeking new talent on campus and in the area. She replaces former Hartnell softball coach Erin Houston, now athletic director at Notre Dame High School in Salinas.

Watt graduated Cum Laude at SJSU with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and an emphasis in physical education, and she is working on her master’s.

With about 5-6 likely team members lined up so far, she is halfway to her goal of having at least an 11-member squad for the 2022 season, which starts in February.

While acknowledging the challenges of forming a team without the ability to recruit over the spring and summer, Watt said, “I can really build and create my vision and what I want in a successful program.

“I’ve had the privilege to be part of so many teams that have been successful. I’m currently the only San Jose State softball player who has won two conference championships.”

She added, “I’m hoping I can transfer that into really building a championship program here. I know Salinas is so rich with softball talent. I want to be able to keep it in the area.”

While naturally inclined toward an assertive style of play, Watt said her goal will be to foster a strong work ethic and build on players’ individual abilities.

“It’s a very cool and dynamic thing,” she said. “No two teams are the same, and I really like being able to work with people and figure out that puzzle – how can we put all of these pieces together and make it successful.”