Luther Welsh has won 305 games and three state championships in his career, most of which has been at Thomson.
At 77 years old, Thomson coach Luther Welsh is the oldest coach in the state, but he’s not slowing down. Welsh has been a head coach since 1968, compiling a 307-150-5 record at Dougherty, Thomson, Camden County, Greene County and Screven County before returning to Thomson in 1999. He has won three state titles at Thomson – 1984, ’85 and ’02 -- but this year’s team is 2-3. Welsh spent a few minutes this week with CoachesAid.com.
Q: Why are you still coaching when a lot of other folks your age are enjoying their retirement?
A: Yeah, well I don’t have anything else to do, so I sit down sometimes and wonder what I will do when I get out of it, and that bothers me. Doing nothing, I’d probably climb up a wall. I like coaching and dealing with the young kids.
Q: What do you do when you’re not coaching?
A: Look here, nowadays it’s a full job. I’m involved with kids, day in and day out, with the weight program and weight lifting classes. During the summer, we have to lift weights. We have the 7-on-7 passing game. So that takes my time.
Q: How do you relate to the players these days?
A: They have changed, but I can’t change because what I do I know is right. You know time has changed and they have changed. Sometimes they have a hard time dealing with it. If you change, then (the winning) will change. If we can just change a kid, then he’ll be better off in life.
Q: How are they different from the players you coached when you started in the 1950s?
A: They are not as disciplined. Years ago, you wouldn’t have any problems with a kid because they were already disciplined at home and they knew right from wrong. (Today’s players) don’t have work habits. They want the easy way out.
Q: Why do you think you’ve had your most success at Thomson?
A: Well, I’ve had my most success at Thomson, yes. They are supposed to be a football town. When you’ve got the people, it’s very easy to win. We’ve had the people and the athletes to do that. Now it’s changed and we don’t have that anymore because the young people have changed, and it’s a different society now.
Q: What do you like about coaching there?
A: The people support you. And I don’t guess you can ask any better than that.
Q: How long do you think you’ll coach?
A: I’m getting close to quitting. I’m 77 years old, so I’m close. I need a little time to have some peace, where it’s not having to do this and having to do that and not having to be somewhere at a certain time. I spend all my time away from my family dealing with other people’s children. It’s time for me to have some time with my wife because my time was tied up in this.
Q: What do you project for the remainder of the season?
A: We don’t know. We vary from week to week. Our younger kids will make football players. Our freshman and sophomore classes have athletes in them, but they are younger. I think the future will be better with the younger guys as better athletes.
Thomson plays at Washington County (5-0) on Friday night.
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