Mount Mary University announced today that Jaclyn Welch will be the next head basketball coach for the Blue Angels. A proven recruiter and former collegiate All-American, Welch earned the position after a nation-wide search by MMU this spring.
“We are very excited to announce the hiring of Jaclyn for our basketball program,” said director of athletics for Mount Mary University, Natalie Balleto (Wildes). “She has a great opportunity to grow and build her professional foundation at MMU. She will bring a fresh perspective and a new vibrancy to the program and department.”
“I am truly Blessed to be named the head women’s coach here at MMU,” commented Jaclyn Welch. “It has been a dream of mine to coach at such a prestigious institution, and am excited to build the women’s basketball program here. Thank you to Natalie and the rest of the athletic department for believing in my mission.”
Before accepting the position at Mount Mary, Welch worked her way through the collegiate ranks both as a player and a coach. Most recently, coach Welch was the head women’s basketball coach for Bryant & Stratton College Albany.
In the program’s first season for B & S Albany, Welch brought in a full roster in her short window of time. Before heading up the roster for the Bobcats, Welch was instrumental in her work as assistant women’s basketball coach and recruitment coordinator at Hudson Valley Community College. Welch has been a major factor in the every team’s successful recruiting efforts that she has been a part of before she leads MMU in 2020-21.
As a player, Welch began her collegiate journey at Niagara Community College in Sanborn, N.Y. where she earned multiple honors in the NJCAA ranks. Welch earned spots on the NJCAA Women’s Basketball All-Region First Team and NJCAA All-American Second Team in her two seasons at NCC. After her time at Niagara Community College, Welch worked her way to NCAA Division II Barton College in North Carolina. The four-time collegiate captain parlayed her collegiate career into a subsequent coaching role at Hudson Valley Community College.
“I love being the ‘young coach,'” added Welch. “My ideas are fresh, and my approach to coaching is being extremely relatable to the athletes, yet still being someone they look up to and respect.”
The Blue Angels finished the 2019-20 basketball season in the semi-finals of the 2020 American Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Championship with interim coach John Baillie. Coach Baillie will transition coaching duties for the basketball team to Welch while he returns to his roles as head soccer coach, assistant director of athletics, and Title IX athletics representative.
For more updates on all the Blue Angels, check back to MtMaryAthletics.com throughout the summer.
https://mtmaryathletics.com/general/2020-21/releases/20200602mlb22u
