Spirit Squad coach puts family first
Coaching a team of college students to dance, flip and throw is not a task for every person, but adding motherhood into the mix takes it to a whole new level. However, Spirit Squad head coach Morgan Watts does all of this, balancing creating Aggie spirit and raising a family.
Morgan is a Utah native and has cheered and danced for her entire life. She cheered competitively in high school and graduated from Bear River High School while also performing as a dancer and ballerina.
Morgan went to Utah State and cheered her first year before spending three years as an Aggiette. Her unique experience being part of both teams gave her a more comprehensive understanding of all the Spirit Squad does. She also met her husband, Dallin Watts, while she was on the squad.
“[Morgan coaching] is a total honor because we met at Utah State,” Dallin said. “Utah State is a huge part of our life, and so to be here with her as the coach is just really a blessing.”
After graduating, Morgan was a dance teacher, and she still teaches part-time. She said she was so excited to coach a team that meant so much to her when she was on it, and getting hired as Spirit Squad head coach in 2020 was a dream come true.
“I worked hard to be on the team, and I worked just as hard, if not harder, to become the coach,” Morgan said. “It’s always been a dream, and to coach the things that I was once doing as a student is just super empowering. Everything is full circle, and that’s pretty great.”
Morgan calls her team her kids and says building the Spirit Squad as a family is important to her. She said one of her favorite parts of when she was on the team, and when she coaches now, is the family unity they experience.
“They are mine, and I am theirs,” Morgan said. “When I was on the squad, they were my siblings. My coaches were my parents. It was that dynamic that changed everything for me and why I never wanted to be away from it.”
The people Morgan coaches also notice the family she builds, and they say they love her for all the love and support she gives them.
“Morgan is unbelievable,” said Hunter Smith, a cheerleader. “Morgan’s the biggest sweetheart ever, and I love her.”
Smith’s teammate Jada Osborne also said Morgan is an incredible coach and role model.
“She’s the best,” Osborne said. “She knows so much about each and every single one of us. She’s very helpful. She’s not only just a good coach, she helps us and asks for our input. She is just very friendly, and she cheers us on individually.”
Morgan makes a goal of helping her team have an incredible experience while at Utah State.
“My No. 1 goal going into every year is improving their experience,” Morgan said. “Their experience as a Spirit Squad member and as a student is important for me for them to feel proud about what they’re doing. And I just always want to make sure they’re fulfilled with our program.”
Morgan sees course correction as an important part of helping her achieve her goal.
“If I ever sense that they’re not getting a great experience, I re-evaluate and restructure a lot of things,” Morgan said. “I haven’t had to do that a lot, but when I see a struggling student, we make sure and stay on top of it. It is all about their personal experience at Utah State.”
However, Morgan doesn’t just have children on the team. She is also a mother to four children named Lucas, Winnie, Penelope and Lettie. Dallin called them “future Aggies” and said Morgan handles her maternal and job duties really well.
“Obviously, being the Spirit Squad coach is a huge time commitment, but she always, always prioritizes being a mom and taking care of our four kids,” Dallin said. “To me, she’s the best mom in the world.”
Morgan knows balancing it all can be hard, but she’s said she’s grateful for everyone who helps her live both of her dreams.
“I’ve got two great cheer assistants and a great family support system at home, and it all works out,” Morgan said. “My hours work around my mom schedule. I’m practicing early hours in the morning. So it works — not all the time and it doesn’t always feel like it’s working. But at the end of the day, it’s balanced most of the time.”
Members of the team love when Morgan brings her family to team events, especially her baby.
“Lettie is a sweetheart,” Smith said. “I’ve told her like six or seven times that she travels so well. She always stays with us.”
They also love having fun with the other kids.
“Their kids are so fun,” Smith said. “They’re so interactive with us. Like we’ll go swimming and they’re letting us throw them around. It’s like how we throw around all of our girls.”
Osborne added to the sentiment, saying the four kids make them feel like a big family. She said she’s gotten to know them all through her three years on the squad, and it has been an amazing time.
“They’re a part of the family, so it’s been really fun,” Osborne said. “They’re all so adorable, and they’re, like, the cutest kids and most well-behaved kids ever. So it’s very helpful to have her family around us as well because it’s just one big, happy family.”
The Watts love having the team in their kids’ lives. Dallin said the they always makes the kids laugh, and they love having the team babysit when je and Morgan have date nights.
“It’s so fun for my kids to be able to hang out and be spoiled by the Spirit Squad members, because they just love them,” Dallin said. “It’s like our kids become their kids too.”
Morgan’s being a working mother inspires her team. Kate Spencer, one of the Aggiettes, said watching Morgan coach and mother influences her.
“She’s not only an inspiration to me, as a coach, but also as a human being,” Spencer said. “Watching her be a mother is making me want to be a mom. She’s just the best with her kids. It makes me so happy.”
Doing it all can put a lot on the family’s plate, but Dallin said he loves seeing Morgan be in her element.
“She is such a great coach, and I love to see her use her talents to make the program the way it is right now,” Dallin said. “I just love to see her thrive in something that she’s so good at, and so grateful to be part of Utah State University.”
When the times get hard, Morgan reminds herself to do her best and let the rest work itself out.
“Don’t sweat the small stuff,” Morgan said. “Keep your eye on the big picture at all times. I tell my kids the key to life is work. If you work hard, you’re going to see yourself succeed in anything that you do.”