George Welsh was the longtime head football coach at the University of Virginia. His Cavaliers had winning seasons for 10 straight years, the longest stretch of consecutive winning football seasons at Virginia since 1915. Welsh led Virginia to nine bowl games, including eight during a period of 10 years. He was been named ACC Football Coach of the Year five times.

Before he arrived at Virginia, UVa had never been invited to a bowl game, never won an Atlantic Coast Conference Championship, never won 10 games in a season and never was ranked higher than ninth in The Associated Press poll.

George Welsh was born and raised in Coaldale, PA. He played football for Coaldale High School and Wyoming Seminary Prep. In college, he played quarterback for Navy during the 1950's, and was head coach at Navy from 1973 to 1982.

The Year 2000 season was George Welsh's last season. He retired at age 67 as the winningest coach in the Atlantic Coach Conference. His record was 134-86-3 during 19 years at Virginia. Your fellow Coal Crackers wish you all the best, coach!

This text excerpted from Virginia Sports Online