School Unwilling to Clear Football Coach Welch—Yet
Santa Margarita Catholic's principal and president send a letter to parents indicating that even though Coach Harry Welch is cleared of criminal wrongdoing, they're not ready to invite him back until they're satisfied with their investigation.
Photos
Even though football coach Harry Welch has been cleared by the Orange County District Attorney's office for his role in an incident at Santa Margarita Catholic High, the school isn't ready to reinstate him from the paid administrative leave he has been on since Jan. 20.
That was spelled out in an email to parents on Saturday from President Paul Carey and Principal Ray Dunne.
The extremely successful football coach who guided Santa Margarita to Southern Section Pac-5 and State Bowl Championships was involved in a Dec. 13 incident in which there was a claim he "pushed or shoved" a student-athlete, according to police. The tip came in an anonymous e-mail; the student nor his family refused to file charges against the coach.
- Click here to see Rancho Santa Margarita Patch on Facebook
- Click here to see Rancho Santa Margarita Patch on Twitter
Orange County Sheriff Deputies investigated, as has the school and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. The OCSD turned the file over to the Orange County District Attorney's office last week, and it refused to file charges because it didn't think it had evidence beyond a reasonable doubt and could not get a jury conviction.
However, the diocese and school—in the wake of an embarrassing episode in which two of Welch's assistants remained on staff for months after they pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana—is taking an understandably cautious approach to avoid a similar debacle.
This is the content of the letter from Carey and Dunne sent to parents on Saturday:
Dear Football Parents,
As you are aware Coach Harry Welch is currently on administrative leave while Santa Margarita Catholic High School Administration and Diocese Of Orange officials conduct a joint review of the matter. You may have read recent media blogs and elsewhere that the Orange County District Attorney's Office has declined to file criminal charges. This decision does not relieve the school and the diocese of their obligation to completely review the circumstances reported, and until such time, Coach Welch will remain on leave. Because of the laws of California which protect the privacy of employees, neither the school nor the diocese is at liberty to discuss the details or report any further on this matter at this time. We ask for your patience and cooperation while the school and the diocese complete their joint review. The safety of our students is, and will remain, our priority.
Welch just finished his second season as coach at Santa Margarita. It was his third state bowl victory in six years with three different teams, including Canyon Country Canyon and St. Margaret's Episcopal. His teams have won six section titles in the last seven years, and he has won 28 of his last 29 playoff games.
Santa Margarita went 13-2 this season and, in Welch's two years heading the program, is 22-5. In the two years prior to his arrival, it was 6-14.
Brad McGirr
10:24 am on Sunday, January 29, 2012
At the risk of being criticized from all sides, I think it best that the school be allowed to complete an "in-house" investigation and to make a decision based upon the facts, rather than allow a public blood bath to ensue, complete with unfounded, inflammatory comments. It's undeniable that Coach Welch is a very successful high school football coach. It's also undeniable that there is a documented history of questionable behavior, even at RSM.
Regarding the previous article and the associated comments, rather than attacking Coach Welch with rumor or innuendo, or blindly supporting him by unfairly criticizing and mocking the comments of those who are critical of the coach's conduct, I would hope that we just keep in mind that it's the kids that count; win, lose or draw.
We need to remember that the decision of a District Attorney not to file charges after a referral from the sheriff does not mean that an offense did or didn't occur. It only means that the DA has chosen not to file a charge because he/she does not feel that the evidence would result in a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt.
Personally, I'm confident that sooner or later, the school will complete its investigation and do the right thing.
Donna Williams
1:14 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
I agree with the above comment. It makes sense to investigate things more, especially after what we've found out about two of the other coaches and the marijuana charges. SMCHS didn't invesitgate when they had the info, and it doesn't look so good.
I'm happy that SM won championship, but I also think It's in SMCHS's best interest to investigate in order to avoid more controversy.
Stamper
5:14 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
i think these are all good points, actually.
Some of the other comments on the other articles about Coach Welch started taking more emotional view points. I think it's a good idea to get some unbiased information, and maybe an investigation will do that. i did read some of the links someone posted in the comments of one of the other articles, and it sounds like there's something to investigate. It's better to be safe than sorry, but I'm really hoping for a good outcome. And I do agree that in the end, it really is the kids that count.