Phil Welsh enters his second year in 2024-25 as an assistant coach with the Lakeland University women’s basketball team. He also serves as the Muskies' head women's golf coach.
"Coach Phil" came to Lakeland from Carthage College, where he was an assistant coach for the women's basketball team under former CCIW Coach of the Year Tim Bernero. Welsh also served as a New Student Registration Specialist for Carthage’s Office of the Registrar.
"I'm so thrilled at this chance to impact the talented student-athletes of Lakeland's women's golf and basketball programs," Welsh said. "I have long believed the greatest variable to building a longstanding, winning program is how well a coaching staff makes its players feel valued. Talented individuals who believe they are cared for and recognized for their strengths will compete vigorously.
"I have been blessed to teach, advise, mentor, coach and supervise college students in my professional roles. It is a privilege I cherish and conduct with integrity, knowing my place in shaping a young person's self-confidence is immeasurable. I'm excited to call myself a Muskie."
"Phil is a distinctively talented and committed individual who is on the path to being an exemplar in our profession,” said former Lakeland Director of Athletics and current Senior Woman Administrator April Arvan. “He is gifted at creating an inclusive environment which reflects well on his ability to inspire. Phil epitomizes what we search for in our coaches: intelligent and conscientious while possessing an unparalleled work ethic."
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 the Silver Division '24 championship at Louisville's historic "Run 4 Roses" tournament.
Prior to Carthage, Welsh served as an assistant coach for the Cornell (Iowa) College women's basketball team from 2018-2021 under former Midwest Conference Coach of the Year Brent Brase. Welsh was also one of Cornell’s Senior Admission Representatives, where he oversaw the campus tour guide program.
Welsh earned his master's in curriculum & instruction from Loyola University Chicago and 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 Tom Davis and Keno Davis. As a senior he was part of a Drake team that posted a school-best 28 wins and won its first-ever Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title and first MVC regular season championship in 37 years.
A native of Racine, Wis., Welsh graduated from Racine Lutheran High School, where he played basketball for four-time Wisconsin state champion Coach Jeff Christensen.
