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George Welsh

Coach

Inducted 2004

Date of Birth

8/26/1933

Birthplace

Coaldale, PA

Schools

University of Virginia (1982-2000)

United States Naval Academy (1973-1981)

Bio

Over his 28-year coaching career, George Welsh, earned himself a reputation of building floundering football programs into winning ones. First at Navy and then at Virginia, Welsh turned down programs into powerhouses. Before arriving at Navy, the Midshipmen had been 12-41 over the past five seasons with just one winning season in the past nine. Welsh wasted no time in turning the program around going 55-46-1 including a sparkling 31-15-1 record in his final four seasons at the helm. In 1982, Welsh was hired as head coach at the University of Virginia. Prior to his arrival, the Cavaliers had compiled a dismal 33-121-11 record in the ACC and only two winning season in the previous 29. It took Welsh only two seasons to buck the losing trend. In 1984, UVa went 8-2-2, ending the season with 27-24 Peach Bowl victory over Purdue. Virginia had only one losing season for the rest of Welsh’s 19-year tenure, during which he was named national Coach of the Year three times and ACC Coach of the Year five times. During that stretch the Cavaliers went 85-51-3 in the ACC, shared two conference titles and made 12 bowl appearances. Coach Welsh retired in 2000 with a record of 189-132-4.