UNCP Athletics

Having already gained valuable experience as a student-athlete at both the NCAA Division II and Division III levels, Aaron Welch begins his fourth year on the coaching staff in 2019-20 as the running backs coach for the Braves. He previously served as a graduate assistant coach for the Black & Gold in 2016-17.
 
Welch, a letterwinner at both Adams State and Cornell College, successfully completed three NCAA coaching internships prior to trekking to Pembroke. He spent the 2015-16 in Fort Collins, Colo., as an assistant coach with CSU’s football strength & conditioning staff. While with the Rams, Welch had the opportunity to develop a pair of all-Americans, as well as multiple All-Midwest Conference selections.
 
He first broke into coaching as a senior at Cornell where he served a unique player-coach role that included film breakdown and practice plans, in addition to his role as a starting linebacker for the Rams. Following a standout three-year playing career in Mt. Vernon, Iowa - a stretch that saw him register 93 tackles (48 solo) while logging time in 27 career games (nine starts) - he served as an assistant coach for Cornell during the 2015 campaign.
 
Welch also boasts professional scouting experience thanks to a stint as a Midwest regional scout for the Arena Football League’s Las Vegas Outlaws. He also has small business, website and social media marketing experience, and is CPR certified.

Welch earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and exercise science from Cornell in 2015. He was awarded his master's degree in sports administration from UNCP in May 2018.

 

THE BUSH FILE
Coaching Experience
2016-17	UNC Pembroke, Graduate Assistant Coach (Defensive Backs)
2018-Present	UNC Pembroke, Assistant Coach (Running Backs)
Playing Experience
Played three seasons (2012-14) at Cornell College. The linebacker also served in a player/coach role for the Rams.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology (Cornell College, 2015); Master’s degree in sports administration (UNC Pembroke, 2018)