Harry Welch (American football)

Harry Edward Welch Jr. (born April 4, 1945) is a retired American High school football coach who is one of the most successful in California prep football history.

In a 43-year coaching career, 25 of which were as a head coach, Welch averaged over 10 wins per season.

He finished with a career coaching record of 257 wins, 61 losses and 2 ties—an 80.6% winning percentage.

Welch is the only California high school football coach to lead three different schools to state championship wins on the field.

In that realm he was a perfect 3–0.

Welch was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 4, 1945, to Harry Edward Welch Sr. and Marie Agnes Welch (nee Snow), joining older sisters June and Diane.

In 1954, at age 9, the Welch family moved to Tarzana, California, where his father was employed in the theater business.

For high school, Welch enrolled at the newly opened Crespi High School in Encino.

There he played on the football team, being utilized at nearly every position on both sides of the ball, including quarterback.

In addition, Welch was very active in student government.

During the 1961 season, he solidified a place in the early history of the school's football program.

On November 24, Welch threw the first touchdown pass in school playoff history—a 10-yard strike to Pat Breaux in a 14–7 loss at Bishop Union High School.

On October 6, 1962, Crespi hosted St. Bernard's (Playa Del Rey) in what was their first-ever Camino Real League game.

During the first quarter, Celts' starting quarterback Tom Mooney left with an ankle injury.

Welch, the team's backup, came on to lead his club to a 19–6 victory and maintain an undefeated slate of 3–0 to start the season.

That game, Welch completed 8-of-12 passes (66.7%) for 75 yards and engineered all three of his school's touchdown scoring drives.

Upon graduating high school in 1963, Welch headed north to the Bay Area and attended Santa Clara University for one year before returning to the Los Angeles area.

Welch embarked on a coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater, Crespi High School, in 1965 while still completing his college degree.

One of his most notable players for the Celts was Randy Cross, an offensive lineman who would go on to play at the University of California, Los Angeles and emerge as an All-Pro selection and three-time Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers.

He continued his studies at nearby San Fernando Valley State College (now known as California State University, Northridge) and received his bachelor's degree in history and English in 1967.

Shortly thereafter, he earned his master's degree and teaching credential.

Welch later moved on to be an assistant coach at Los Angeles Valley College from 1974 to 1978.

With the Monarchs, he mentored future NFL professionals Odis McKinney, Vernon Dean and Jack Steptoe.

The 1975 team won the Metro Conference title, were Potato Bowl champions and concluded the season ranked No. 2 in the national polls.

In 1982, at age 37, Welch was named the head coach at Canyon High School and served in that capacity for twelve seasons from 1982 through 1993.

It was the first of his two stints with the Cowboys.

After just one season, Welch enjoyed success with three-consecutive CIF-Southern Section (CIF-SS) championships while posting a 46-game winning streak along the way, over parts of three seasons (1983–85).

He led Canyon to the 1983 Northwestern Conference title with a win over Bishop Montgomery (Torrance) 40–24 at College of the Canyons.

The following season his team defeated Santa Maria 33–6 for a second-consecutive Northwestern Conference title, again at College of the Canyons.

In 1985, the Cowboys completed the trifecta, their third championship in succession, with a hard-fought 9–7 victory versus Antelope Valley at Canyon.

In 1988, Antelope Valley avenged that defeat to claim the Division II title 28–22 in what would be Welch's only championship game setback of his entire career.

One of Welch's anchors on the Cowboy defense from 1988 to 1990 was the late Chuck Osborne Jr. The talented defensive tackle was selected All-Golden Valley League and All-Santa Clarita Valley First-Team - Defense in 1991.

In 1993, after twelve successful seasons, he stepped away from the field but remained a teacher at the school.

In late 2009, Welch was recognized by the Los Angeles Daily News as the high school "Football Coach of the Decade," covering the 2000–09 seasons.

In the ten-year span, nine of which he coached, Welch's overall record was 100-17 (.855).

He boasted double-digit wins the last seven years of the decade that included two state championships and two undefeated campaigns.

In 2022, Welch's fruitful career was acknowledged and honored with being chosen to two Halls of Fame—the California Interscholastic Federation – Southern Section (CIF-SS) Hall of Fame and in the inaugural class of the California High School Football Hall of Fame.

Although widely known for his football success, Welch's career accomplishments carried beyond athletics.

His leadership on the football field was equally paired with his dedication as an academic educator.

Welch was a gifted teacher who spent as many years in the classroom as he did on the field.