Larry Welsh

Gonzales High football was at its peak under Larry Welsh, who coached the Spartans from 1966-75). During that span Gonzales went 69-18-1 with 33 shutouts. He was the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at Cal State Fullerton from 1976-78, and then turned the Atascadero High football program into a powerhouse. During his 18 years at Atascadero, starting in 1979, his teams set a state record for most wins in a decade during the 1980s.  Welsh won seven CIF titles, including four in a row in the mid 1990s. He was named California State Coach of the Year in 1995 by Cal-Hi Prep Magazine.