John Welch (basketball)

John Welch
Fresno State Bulldogs
PositionAssociate head coach
LeagueMountain West
Personal information
Born (1963-02-17) February 17, 1963 (age 61)
Portland, Maine
NationalityAmerican
Career information
High schoolRancho (North Las Vegas, Nevada)
CollegeNevada (1982–1984)
UNLV (1985–1986)
NBA draft1986: undrafted
PositionGuard
Coaching career1986–present
Career history
As coach:
1986–1989UNLV (graduate assistant)
1993–1995Long Beach State (assistant)
1995–2002Fresno State (assistant)
20022005Memphis Grizzlies (assistant)
20052013Denver Nuggets (assistant)
20132015Brooklyn Nets (assistant)
20152016Sacramento Kings (assistant)
20162020Los Angeles Clippers (assistant)
2022Ostioneros de Guaymas
2023–2024Kentucky (assistant)
2024–presentFresno State (associate HC)
Career highlights and awards
As player:

As assistant coach:

John Welch (born February 17, 1963) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the associate head coach at Fresno State. He previously served as assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played professionally in New Zealand where in 1988, he earned Most Outstanding Guard and All-Star Five honors playing for Waitemata. Throughout his coaching career, he has worked with or worked under various notable basketball people, including Jerry Tarkanian, Jerry West, Hubie Brown, George Karl and Tim Grgurich.

Early life

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Born in Portland, Maine, Welch attended Rancho High School in North Las Vegas, Nevada and was an All-State selection. He later played college basketball for Nevada and UNLV before starting a successful coaching career.

Coaching career

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Fresno State

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At Fresno State, Welch worked under head coach Jerry Tarkanian, a 2013 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach inductee.

Denver Nuggets

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Welch worked under George Karl during his tenure with the Denver Nuggets.[1] Karl expressed his appreciation towards Welch, saying, "he's got great passion ... [and] tries something every day that we can get better at."[2]

Brooklyn Nets

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Welch began his tenure with the Nets in 2013, the first season Jason Kidd was head coach.[3]

Sacramento Kings

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On July 31, 2015, Welch was hired by the Sacramento Kings to be an assistant coach.[4]

Los Angeles Clippers

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On September 23, 2016, Welch was hired as an assistant coach by the Los Angeles Clippers,[5] and served in the position until November 16, 2020.[6]

Ostioneros de Guaymas

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On February 22, 2022, Welch was hired as the head coach of the Ostioneros de Guaymas, a Mexican team in the Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacífico (CIBACOPA).[7]

Kentucky

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On May 22, 2023, Welch was hired as an assistant coach by the Kentucky Wildcats.

References

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  1. ^ Brooklyn Nets: Get To Know New Assistant Coach John Welch
  2. ^ Nuggets find gem in Welch
  3. ^ John Welch Bio
  4. ^ "Kings Announce Coaching Staff". NBA.com. July 31, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  5. ^ "L.A. CLIPPERS ANNOUNCE BASKETBALL OPERATIONS ADDITIONS AND PROMOTIONS". NBA.com. September 23, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  6. ^ "LA Clippers Finalize Coaching Staff For 2020-21 Season". NBA.com. November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  7. ^ "De la NBA a Cibacopa: John Welch es el nuevo coach de Ostioneros" (Press release) (in Spanish). CIBACOPA. February 22, 2022. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
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