HOFSTRA HIRES TIM WELSH AS NEW MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH
Hempstead, NY (April 1) - Hofstra University hired Tim Welsh to be its new head men's basketball coach, it was announced today by President Stuart Rabinowitz and Director of Athletics Jack Hayes.
"This is an exciting day for Hofstra," said Hayes. "Tim brings a wealth of experience to our head coaching position. He has done an exceptional job as the head coach at two different institutions, consistently leading his teams to the postseason throughout his career. He has also earned a tremendous amount of respect from his peers in the coaching industry. We are ecstatic that he has agreed to join us."
Welsh, who previously coached for 10 years at Providence College from 1998-2008 and for three years at Iona College from 1995-98, replaces Tom Pecora, who left after nine seasons to take the head coaching job at Fordham last week. Welsh becomes the 11th head coach in the history of the Hofstra Men's Basketball program, which began in 1936-37.
"We are pleased to welcome Tim Welsh and his family to Hofstra. We are confident that Tim's background, experience and passion for the game will take Hofstra to the next level of excellence in our basketball program," said Hofstra University President Stuart Rabinowitz. "At Hofstra University, we strive for excellence in all that we do, including our athletics program. We are making significant, strategic investments to provide basketball with the enhanced resources to become competitive at the highest levels."
The University has retained Mike Tranghese, the retired commissioner of the Big East Conference, to assist in the development of a strategic plan for the Hofstra Athletics program, and he played a pivotal role in the search for the new men's basketball coach.
Welsh led Providence to two NCAA and three Postseason NIT appearances in his 10 seasons at the helm. His 2003-04 team, led by current NBA player Ryan Gomes (Minnesota Timberwolves), finished 20-9 and earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the highest seed in the history of the Providence program. That squad was also nationally ranked for nine weeks, peaking at No. 12 in the Associated Press poll, which was the highest ranking in program history.
In his third year at Providence in 2000-01, Welsh coached the Friars to an 11-5 record in the Big East, setting a school record for most Big East wins (which his 2003-04 team later matched), and an NCAA Tournament berth. He currently ranks fourth on Providence's all-time coaching list with 145 victories.
Prior to taking the Providence job, Welsh served as the head coach at Iona for three seasons (1995-98), leading the Gaels to a combined 70-22 record, three regular season MAAC titles, one NCAA appearance and two Postseason NIT bids. In 1997-98, he was named the MAAC Coach of the Year for the second season in a row after leading his team to a school-record 27 wins (27-6) and an NCAA Tournament berth. He also was named the Metropolitan New York Coach of the Year in 1996 and 1998, and earned the National Association of Basketball Coaches District 2 Coach of the Year honor in 1997.
Welsh graduated in 1984 from SUNY-Potsdam, where he played for his father, Jerry Welsh, and helped his team to the NCAA Division III Final Four. He began his coaching career at Iona for current Towson head coach Pat Kennedy, before joining Kennedy's staff at Florida State from 1986-88. He then served as an assistant at Syracuse for Jim Boeheim from 1988-91, before taking a position as an assistant coach for his father at Iona in 1991-92. After his father retired at the end of the 1994-95 season, Welsh took over the head coaching position the following year and led the Gaels to a 21-8 record and a Postseason NIT berth.
Welsh's overall career coaching record is 215-148 in 13 seasons, including eight postseason appearances (five NIT, three NCAA).
Hofstra finished with a 19-15 record in 2009-10 and returns eight of its 10 letter winners, including senior guard Charles Jenkins, the reigning Haggerty Award winner as the top player in the New York metropolitan area and the 2009-10 Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year.
Tim Welsh Coaching Career:
* 1985-86 Iona (Assistant Coach)
* 1986-88 Florida State (Assistant Coach)
* 1988-91 Syracuse (Assistant Coach)
* 1991-95 Iona (Assistant Coach)
* 1995-98 Iona (Head Coach) - 3 years, 70-22 record
* 1998-08 Providence (Head Coach) - 10 years, 145-126 record
What they are saying about Tim Welsh...
"I think this is a great hire for Hofstra. I am happy for Tim, not only because he is a good coach, but because I believe he is one of the top quality people in college basketball. Our game is better today because he is back in coaching."
- Jim Calhoun, Connecticut head coach
"I am thrilled for Tim and Megan that they are now a part of the Hofstra family. I know Tim will continue the great tradition that Tom has instilled. This is a perfect match of an outstanding coach, recruiter and motivator with a great basketball program and university. As always the Wright family continues to be enthusiastic Hofstra fans."
- Jay Wright, Villanova head coach
"Tim has taken several programs at various levels to postseason competition, is well connected to East Coast metropolitan basketball and is well respected in the coaching profession. He will be a welcome addition to the CAA coaching ranks."
- Tom Yeager, CAA commissioner
"I have known Tim and his dad for years, and I'm thrilled that he's back in coaching. This business needs decent people who love their work and love their kids. Hofstra has been very fortunate over the years to have those kind of coaches, and Tim fits right in with the Jay Wrights and the Tom Pecoras."
- Bill Raftery, ESPN and CBS analyst
"This is a great hire for Hofstra University. Tim Welsh is a coach that stresses hard work and brings out the best in his players. He was instrumental in developing me as a player and a person. I'm thrilled to see him coaching in the college ranks again."
- Ryan Gomes, Minnesota Timberwolves