Cris Welch

Cris Welch opens his sixth season as the head coach of the Yellowjackets who look to return back to the top of the conference this year. Welch's 2007 team sported a 6-4 overall record and he personally has a 34-18 overall record at Graceland in five seasons. On the verge of the 2008 season, Welch, a prominent recruiter for Boston College five years ago, has added more game-time players to his Yellowjacket roster, in hopes of winning the conference championship title while pursuing a national championship.

Prior to Graceland
While at Boston College, Welch was instrumental in the successful recruitment of the nationally ranked 2001 and 2002 recruiting classes, including BC’s only USA Today First Team All-American. He also developed highly successful recruiting strategies and objectives for the Division I/Big East football program.

Prior to his recruiting position at BC, Welch coached football at Graceland, serving five years as the offensive line coach, three years as the defensive line coach and five years as the junior varsity head coach. The Yukon, Okla., native also recruited nation-wide for the Yellowjackets at the high school and junior college levels.

Welch additionally focused his recruiting talents on building a diverse student body at Graceland as an Admissions Field Officer for six years. His experience includes serving students and parents of scholars as the program advisor for the Life Skills mentoring program. This appointment allowed Welch to develop and implement a new federally funded mentoring program to support the success of at-risk high school students using current college students.

Playing Experience
The Graceland Experience began in 1988 for Welch, as the center for the Yellowjacket football team. The 1987 Yukon High School graduate started every single game of his collegiate career and was named a team captain both his junior and senior years at Graceland.

Education
Welch graduated from Graceland University in 1992 with a B.A. in Business Administration. He graduated from Yukon High School in Yukon, Okla., in 1988.

Honors
ESPN’s recruiting analyst Tom Lemming recognized Welch’s staff at Boston College as one of the best and most dangerous behind-the-scenes recruiting staffs in the country.

Personal
Cris and his wife Kerry (Logan, GU ’91) have two children Jordan, 14, and Conner, 10. In his spare time, Welch enjoys golf, reading and salt water marine fish.