Bio

The driving force behind the college's athletics programs in its early years Coach Welch served as the Director of Athletics beginning in the 1920s when it was California Christian College and located in Los Angeles, Calif. He saw the changing of the college's name to Chapman in 1934 and steered the success of numerous athletic programs, including football from 1927-33, baseball from 1927-41 and men's basketball from 1925-42.

Not only was Welch revered as one of the great mentors in the school's history, but his teams won with great consistency. Over 15 seasons as the Panthers' baseball coach, Welch's teams won 140 games and had a .583 winning percentage, including a record of 20-5-1 in 1935.

On the hardcourt, Welch's teams may have been the best in Southern California during this era. The Panthers went 258-87 over 17 years (.748 winning pct.) playing in the Southern California Basketball Association - Class AAA (highest rated division). In 1936, Welch guided the Panthers to the Southern California championship. The award for Chapman's men's basketball team's most valuable player was named the Welch Trophy in 1935.

Welch's departure from Chapman Athletics coincided with the school's hiatus from competition during World War II. Later he was among the first class inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1980.

*Passed Away