Indiana State University Athletics

William M. Welch is one of the most legendary track and field coaches in the nation and spent his entire career in Terre Haute after graduating from Indiana State in 1950. Welch began his career as a teacher, coach and athletic director in Vigo County schools from 1951-1981. He had great baseball, basketball and football teams but was most notably a track and field and cross country coach.

He was named the Indiana Track Coach of the Year for his work at Gerstmeyer in 1968 and was the National High School Track Coach of the Year in 1970. After taking over the position at North Vigo High School, he led the Patriots to the 1972 cross country state championship, marking the first IHSAA championship in any sport for Terre Haute. In 1989, he was inducted to Indiana High School Track and Field Hall of Fame.

From 1981 to 2002, Welch worked with the cross country and track programs at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, where he won eight College Athletic Conference titles. He also developed 33 NCAA Division III All-Americans and five individual national champions. He was inducted in the Rose-Hulman Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997.

He was also inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1977.
 

• Vigo County High School teacher and Coach (1951-1981) 

• Won 1972 Cross Country State Title; first IHSAA championship in Terre Haute 

• Indiana Track Coach of the Year (1968) 

• National High School Track Coach of the Year (1970) 

• Indiana Cross Country Coach of the Year (172) 

• Indiana High School Track & Field Hall of Fame (1989) 

• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Head Coach (1981-2002) 

• Eight College Athletic Conference titles 

• Developed 33 NCAA Division III All-Americans 

• Five individual National Champions 

• Rose-Hulman Athletics Hall of Fame (1997) 

• National Track & Field Hall of Fame (1977) 

• Inducted into Hall of Fame February 25, 2006