Hall of Fame
Back To Hall of Fame
Back To Hall of Fame
As a student-athlete tennis player, coach, teacher, and administrator, Dr. Allen Welsh achieved an exceptional career at Cal U, influencing thousands of students while distinguishing himself both academically and athletically.
A 1949 graduate of North Union High School, Welsh received a state senatorial scholarship and attended Cal U where he earned his degree with honors in 1955. On the tennis court, Welsh was a member of Cal’s 1954 undefeated squad and he compiled a 8-1 singles record and 7-0 doubles record.
After his collegiate days, Welsh won numerous area tournaments in both singles and doubles play and also earned his M.A. with high honors from West Virginia University in 1958.
Before returning to Cal, Welsh taught English for two years at Connellsville Junior High School and served as a guidance counselor for one year at McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio.
He then worked at Cal U for nearly 33 years, handling a number of administrative positions, including assistant dean of men, dean of men, dean of student affairs, registrar, and assistant to the President. For 21 years, Welsh also taught courses in world culture, public administration, and sociology. He retired from his administrational and teaching duties in late fall of 1984.
Welsh began his coaching career by guiding the Connellsville High School team for one season and then served as Cal’s assistant tennis coach for three years. Welsh then became the Vulcans’ head tennis coach for 20 years from 1963 through 1982, compiling a brilliant 202-55 (.786) career record in dual matches with team state championships in 1963, ´68, ´71, and ´72.
His 1976 squad placed second at the state tourney and three other times Welsh-coached Cal teams were third.
Cal competed in the NAIA during Welsh’s coaching era and four times won the District 18 title with one runner-up finish. He led the Vulcan to five NAIA national tournaments in Kansas City, Missouri, where Cal finished seventh in 1963, 11th in 1967, 12th in 1968, 11th in 1971, and 14th in 1972. Welsh was also selected as the 1972 NAIA District Coach-of-the-Year in 1972. Cal won the ECAC tournament title in 1975 and placed second in 1972.
Some of many highlights from Welsh’s final coaching seasons were the Vulcans winning the 1979 West Liberty Invitational, the 1980 Dayton Invitational and the 1981 Wright State tourney co-championship.
Religious and dedicated, Welsh is a life-long member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Uniontown, where he served two terms on the Church Vestry. Welsh served in the U.S. Army for two years and is a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Phi Delta Kappa Academic Fraternity in Education and the Cal U Noss Lecture Series committee.
Welsh and his wife, the former Mary C, Sesler, reside in Uniontown.
Back To Hall of Fame
