Fresh off nine years as an athletic director at the Class 7A level, Jason Watts was tabbed as the candidate to help the Gulf Shores Dolphins return to Class 6A. He was announced to the position on Wednesday.

Watts was most recently over the James Clemens Jets’ athletic department for five years following a four-year stint with the Sparkman Senators. While at James Clemens, Watts worked closely with another newly familiar face to the Island in the newest Orange Beach head football coach, Wade Waldrop.

An Alabama alum for undergraduate, Watts earned his master’s degree from Samford and went on to earn his Educational Specialist degree from UAB. He and his wife Shannon have two kids, Kendall and McKlain.

Watts spent his first 13 years as an educator at Homewood Middle School where he taught math and coached football, track and wrestling. After that, he served as assistant principal for two years at Bragg Middle School before also serving in an assistant principal role at Sparkman and James Clemens.

Now Gulf Shores’ third athletic director in as many years, Watts takes over after a one-year stint from Paul Wilson who oversaw program-first championships in football and boys’ soccer. Kevin Tubbs led the Dolphin athletic department the previous two years.

Due to enrollment, the Gulf Shores Dolphins were promoted back to Class 6A in the most recent biennial reclassification of the Alabama High School Athletic Association after two years on the Class 5A stage.

When the fall regions were approved, Gulf Shores was set to take the spot of Robertsdale who moved up to Class 7A. The Dolphins will compete in Region 1 against Baldwin County, Spanish Fort, Mattie T. Blount, Murphy, Saraland and Theodore.