Tracy Welch, LWISD Athletic Director/Head Football Coach

Bio: 

Tracy Welch was hired as the Lake Worth Athletic Director and head football coach in April of 2018. Tracy came to Lake Worth after serving as the associate athletic director, assistant head football coach, and offensive coordinator at Copperas Cove ISD for 24 years. 

In 2003, Tracy was named as an “AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year”. After the 2010 Harker Heights game, he was presented with a victory ball celebrating his 150th win at Copperas Cove. 

Welch went to Copperas Cove after coaching at Kansas State University, where he assisted with the offensive line. KSU won the 1993 Copper Bowl 52-17 over Wyoming and finished 18th nationally after a 9-2-1 season. He served as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Fort Scott Community College (Kansas) from 1988-1993. During his tenure at FSCC, he helped produce three consecutive bowl appearances (RC Cola Bowl, Midwest Bowl, and the Valley of the Sun Bowl) and the top offense in the Kansas Jayhawk Community Conference each of those five years. 

Throughout Tracy’s football career, he has been blessed with some very influential mentors. He has coached with the future “Hall of Fame Coach” Jack Welch for 28 years as well as played for Jack for three years. At Pittsburg State University (Kansas), Tracy played for Dennis Franchione. Coach Franchione went on to be head coach at Texas State University, New Mexico University, Texas Christian University, Alabama University, and Texas A&M University. Prior to Cove, Tracy coached under another “Hall of Fame Coach”, Bill Synder at Kansas State University. 

Welch was a two-sport letterman at Kansas Wesleyan University (1986) in football and baseball. He was also the starting quarterback at Fort Scott Community College (1987) where he received academic All-American honors. He participated in spring football at Pittsburg State University but a shoulder surgery cut his playing career short. 

In Cove, Tracy served six years as the head track coach. In 1997, 1998, and 1999 the Dawg track team finished as the district runner-up champions. In 2000, the Dawgs finished as the District Champions. The 2000 team was also regional runner-up champions and placed third overall in the 5A State Track Meet. The Dawgs had the fourth fastest 4x100 meter relay time in the nation that year. During the 2001 season the Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman teams finished as district champions. 

Welch received his Associate of Arts Degree (1987) from Fort Scott Community College, Bachelor’s degree from Pittsburg State University (1990) and his Master’s degree from Central Texas University of Central Texas (1999). 

Tracy and his wife Sheri have 3 children: Kaylee Joleen (22), Caleb Thomas (19) who attends Southwestern Assemblies of God University and Matthew Hunter (17) who attends Lake Worth High School. Sheri is the elementary curriculum coordinator. Tracy and Sheri are members of First Baptist Church of Saginaw. Tracy has served as a deacon and is a past president of the Lion’s Club.