Western Carolina University

Mike Welch joined the Catamount football coaching staff in the spring of 2026, when he began coaching the defensive line and serving as the program’s defensive run-game coordinator. He came to Cullowhee after three seasons at Charleston Southern, where he served in a similar role with current WCU defensive coordinator Nick Reveiz.
 
With the Buccaneers between 2023 and 2025, Charleston Southern’s defense ranked second in the OVC-Big South Football Association in passing defense in 2024, finishing the year 45th nationally at 200.8 yards allowed per game, and fourth in the conference in total defense.
 
Welch mentored a trio of all-conference honorees, including Darrius Bell (2024), David Portu (2025), and Mylan Bowen (2025). He also coached first-team all-conference defensive lineman and OVC/Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year Malik McKenzie. He also coached 2024 Phil Steele FCS Freshman All-America selection, DL Dylan Manuel and Darius Bell.
 
Before going to the South Carolina Lowcountry, Welch coached at the then-NCAA Division II Albany State for a year in 2022. That season, the Albany State defense finished in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense and led the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) in pass efficiency defense. His defensive line accounted for 24 sacks and 50.5 tackles for loss. Albany State had a pair of all-conference selections, including a first-team All-SIAC selection.

Welch had a short stint at Lyon College in Batesville, Ark., in 2021, where he developed and coached two all-conference defensive linemen.
 
Prior to Lyon, Welch had a four-season stint at Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, Miss. As the defensive coordinator, defensive line coach and head sports performance coach, Welch developed and coached 17 all-conference defensive players, including four who were signed by NFL teams (Davion Taylor, Philadelphia Eagles; Chris Claybrooks,  Jacksonville Jaguars; Sam Okuayinonu. Tennessee Titans; and Caleb Sampson, Indianapolis Colts). Coahoma ranked within the nation's top 10 in turnovers (2016 and 2019), tackles for loss (2017 and 2019), and sacks (2017 and 2019).

Welch landed his start at the collegiate level as the Lead Strength Assistant at Iowa State University in 2015. This followed a year at Woodward Academy as Defensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator.

A native of Houston, Texas, Welch was a three-time all-conference defensive lineman at William Penn University in Iowa. He finished his playing career inside the school's top 10 for tackles and tackles for loss. He graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management
 
Welch and his wife Naomi share three children, Raymond, Lauryn and Michael Jr.
 
Coaching Experience
2026-present: Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, N.C.) – Defensive Line
2023-25: Charleston Southern University (Charleston, S.C.) – Defensive Line
2022: Albany State University (Albany, N.Y.) – Defensive Line
2021: Lyon College (Batesville, Ark.) - Defensive Line / Head Sports Performance
2016-2019: Coahoma Community College (Clarksdale, Miss.) – Defensive Coordinator /  Defensive Line / Head Sports Performance
2015: Iowa State (Ames, Iowa) – Lead Assistant Strength Coach
2014: Woodard Academy (Woodward, Iowa) – Run Game Coordinator / Defensive Line 
2013: Booker T. Washington (Houston, Texas) – Defensive Line Volunteer