Phil Welsh (“Coach Phil”) was named an assistant coach for the Carthage women's basketball team in August of 2021. During his first season at Carthage, Welsh helped Coach Tim Bernero reach his 300th career victory.
“I find Phil to be a knowledgeable basketball mind who is also constantly willing to expand his skillset as a coach,” Coach Bernero remarked. “He is a thorough recruiter and evaluator of talent.”
In March 2022, Welsh was hired by WNBA champion Korie Hlede of Chicago Sky Basketball Academy to coach the DuPage county 16U West AAU team. He led the team to an 8-3 record at Louisville’s historic “Run 4 Roses” tournament, claiming the Silver Division ’24 championship.
“I was most impressed by Phil's ease in which he communicates his immense knowledge of the game to his players. He is a natural communicator and cares about players deeply,” Hlede said following the club season.
Welsh earned his Master's in Curriculum & Instruction from Loyola University Chicago, along with his Bachelor's in Elementary Education from Drake University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. While at Drake, he was a student manager for the men's basketball program, working under AP College Coach of the Year winners Dr. Tom Davis and Keno Davis. During his senior season, Welsh’s Drake Bulldogs won the school’s first-ever Missouri Valley Conference Championship with a 28-5 overall record. The team finished the season ranked No. 14 in the AP Division 1 Men’s Basketball National Poll.
Prior to his time at Carthage, Welsh served as an assistant coach for the Cornell College women’s basketball team from 2018-2021 under 2013 Midwest Conference Coach of the Year Brent Brase. An owner of over 350 career wins, Coach Brase and his staff won 15 games and earned a berth in the MWC conference tournament in the 2019-20 season.
“Phil not only provides strong leadership and work ethic, but displays a great outlook on life,” says Coach Brase. “He has a strong basketball mind and his positive attitude and great work ethic helps set a standard for others to follow.”
In addition to his role in athletics, Welsh also serves as a new student registration specialist in the Office of the Registrar at Carthage. Originally from Racine, Wisconsin, Welsh returns to the area for the first time since graduating from Racine Lutheran High School, where he played basketball for four-time Wisconsin state champion Coach Jeff Christensen.
