George Welsh (American football)

College coach infobox


Name = George Welsh
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DateOfBirth = Birth date and age|1933|8|26|mf=y
Birthplace = Coaldale, Pennsylvania
DateOfDeath =
Sport = Football
College =
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CurrentRecord =
OverallRecord = 189-132-4
Awards =
Championships =
CFbDWID = 2471
Player =
Years =
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Coach = Y
CoachYears = 1973-81
1982-2000
CoachTeams = United States Naval Academy
University of Virginia
FootballHOF = 2004
CollegeHOFID = 90081

George Welsh (born August 26, 1933) is a former American college football coach. He was born in Coaldale, Pennsylvania.

Coaching career

Head Coach - University of Virginia (1982-2000) Head Coach – United States Naval Academy (1973-1981)Assistant Coach - Penn State University (1963-1972)Career Record: 189-132-4 (ranked 24th all-time)

Welsh was a highly successful NCAA college football head coach in the second half of the twentieth century. He was head coach at the Naval Academy and the University of Virginia over the course of a 28-year career. He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Welsh graduated from the Naval Academy in 1956 where he was an All-American quarterback. After serving as an assistant coach under Joe Paterno at Penn State in the 1960s, Welsh began his head coaching career at his alma mater in 1973. He led the Midshipmen to three bowl game appearances and their first nine-win season in 16 years. Over the course of nine seasons, Welsh compiled a record of 55-46-1, making him the school's most successful coach.

Responsible for rebuilding two national Division I-A programs, George Welsh guided Navy and Virginia, returning Navy to its past glory and lifting Virginia to a new level of success.

Welsh’s legacy at Virginia began in 1982, and in 19 years at the helm, he became the all-time winningest coach in school and Atlantic Coast Conference history. Named ACC Coach of the Year five times and National Coach of the Year three times, Welsh guided the Cavaliers to a share of two ACC titles and set a conference record with 13 consecutive seasons of at least seven wins.

In his tenure, Welsh led Virginia to 12 bowl game appearances, including their first ever, the Peach Bowl, in 1984. Prior to his arrival, Virginia had only two winning seasons in the program’s previous 29 years – Welsh guided the Cavs to 15 winning seasons in 19 years.

Welsh was named ACC Coach of the Year five times and National Coach of the Year three times. He led the Cavaliers to a share of two ACC titles and set a conference record with 13 consecutive seasons of at least seven wins. Upon his retirement after the 2000 season, his 189 career victories ranked him 24th in Division I-A history.