Welch Has Applied for Vacant Canyon Football Coaching Job

Harry Welch, who guided Canyon High to three Southern Section football championships in the 1980s, said Tuesday he has applied for the position he left after the 1993 season.

“I realize that I still have a lot to give and I don’t like the way it ended the last time,” said Welch, whose teams were 120-31-2 from 1982-93.

Welch, 55, a teacher at the school, applied for the coaching position in 1999, when Canyon hired Jack Bowman to replace Larry Mohr. Bowman resigned last month after his teams were 8-14 in two seasons.

The Cowboys failed to qualify for the playoffs last season.

“It can be turned around,” Welch said. “It will take an awful lot of effort, but it can be done.”

During the winter break, Welch was involved in the refurbishment of the school’s football facilities and has drawn support from several boosters.

Under Welch, Canyon won consecutive section titles from 1983-85 and tied a state record, since broken, with 46 consecutive victories.

But his run at Canyon was controversial.

He was suspended for a season by the Southern Section in 1991 after his team held an illegal practice. Welch won a court decision barring the Southern Section’s suspension and settled a lawsuit out of court. Welch missed no games.