Zach Welch (Head Women's Soccer Coach: 3rd Year)
Coaching Mission:
- Create an environment where our ladies excel and grow on and off the field. One that challenges them daily and brings the best out of them as women.
Education:
- B.A. Exercise Science, Asbury University (2013)
- Masters in Organizational Leadership, St Mary’s University, MN (2017)
Coaching Credentials:
- USSF C License (2022)
- United Coaches Association Advanced Regional Diploma
Coaching Experience:
- Asbury Head Women's Soccer Coach (2022-Present)
- Central Kentucky Soccer Club Storm 06 and 08 Boys Head Coach
- Asbury Men's Soccer Assistant Coach (2014-2022)
- East Jessamine High School Girls head coach upon graduation from Asbury University (2014-2016)
Honors
- 2024 Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) Women's Soccer Coach of the Year (View Story Here)
- 2024 NISOA Sportsmanship Award Recipient for NCCAA Division 1
TeamAU History:
- Head Women's Soccer Coach (2022-Present)
- Assistant Men's Soccer Coach at AU (2014-2022)
- Played on the Asbury Men's Soccer team (2009-2013)
- 4-year starter and 2-year captain.
- KIAC Conference Champions in 2012.
- Gamble Walker Award 2013.
Personal:
- Married to wife Victoria (’21) and parents to daughter, Taytum (’23) & dogs Gypsy & Winston
- Enjoys the beach and loves to play golf.
- Hometown – Port Orange, FL
Honors
- 2024 Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) Women's Soccer Coach of the Year (View Story Here)
More:
The Asbury University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced in November of 2022 that Zach Welch had been named head coach for the women’s soccer program and will begin his duties on December 1.
Welch, in his second season as head coach of the AU women's soccer program, was named the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) Coach of the Year after leading the Eagles to a 9-8-5 overall record and 4-2-2 in the CCS. In their first year in the conference, Welch led the Eagles to the fifth seed and a run to the CCS Semifinals.
Asbury also won the NCCAA Mideast Region Championship in 2024, securing a spot in the NCCAA National Tournament. Asbury had two student-athletes named First Team All-CCS (Hannah Muncie and Lauren Davis), and also three earn Second Team All-CCS (Maggie Perry, Reese Bolton, Anna Sparks). Welch also helped produce three NCCAA Mideast All-Region players (Hannah Muncie, Anna Sparks, and Maggie Perry.) Hannah Muncie was also named as an NCCAA Second Team All-American.
2024 Season Numbers
- Improved from two wins in 2023 to nine in 2024
- NCCAA Mideast Region Championship
- NCCAA National Tournament Appearance
- 4-2-2 conference record in first season in CCS
- Led AU to the CCS Semifinals
- Help produce five CCS All-Conference athletes and three NCCAA Mideast All-Region players, including one All-American
In his first season at the helm in 2023, Coach Welch collected two wins and four draws. His first head coaching career win came on Sept. 20th in a 5-0 win over Berea. Coach Welch helped produce four NCCAA Mideast All-Region players during his first year as head coach (Caroline Absher, Deidra Long, Reese Bolton, and Audrey Van Lieu).
Welch served as the associate head coach of the AU men’s soccer team during the 2022 season, after holding the position of full-time assistant men’s soccer coach since 2016. A standout midfielder for the Eagles from 2010-2013, Welch was a four-year starter and a two-time team captain. He helped AU to a conference championship in 2012. He also received the 2013 Gamble Walker Award, presented to Asbury’s outstanding senior men’s student-athlete.
The Port Orange, Fla., native graduated from Asbury in 2013 with a bachelor’s in Exercise Science and later earned a master’s in organizational leadership from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in 2017.
“I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to lead the women’s soccer program at Asbury University,” Welch said. “First and foremost, I thank God for continually blessing Victoria and me on this journey. We are excited to see what God has in store for AU women’s soccer. A special thanks to Mark Whitworth, Ben Andrews and Erin Ferguson for entrusting me with this opportunity and seeing the potential in me to lead this program.”
“We are very thankful for Coach Welch’s passion and vision to build our women’s soccer program at Asbury,” Mark Whitworth, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics & University Communications, said. “I’ve had the privilege of watching him grow as a coach and a leader in our department. He is a tireless worker, a proven recruiter, and committed to the development of both the student and the athlete.”
Welch has been unwavering in his commitment to developing his craft as a soccer coach for the past nine years. He holds the US Soccer C Coaching License and the United Coaches Association Advanced Regional Diploma. Welch served three seasons as the Girls Soccer Head Coach at East Jessamine High School from 2014-16. He also brings extensive club coaching experience to his new role, having served as the U18 Head Coach for the Central Kentucky Soccer Club from 2017-2019. Welch is currently serving as the U17 and U15 Head Coach for the CKY Storm this season.
“The past six seasons as a full-time coach under Ben Andrews, has shaped me into the person and coach I am today,” Welch added. “I am truly grateful to those student-athletes and coaches who were a part of that process. I also want to thank my wife, Victoria, for her unending support and encouragement. We are beyond excited for this next step in our lives to create a successful program on and off the field, and to sustain that for the seasons to come. Go Eagles and I am thankful to continue to be a part of TeamAU.”
Welch, who has served as AU’s reserve team head coach since 2019, is credited for building a strong developmental program at Asbury and helping form a state-wide league to enhance the competitive experience. In addition to his coaching duties at Asbury, Welch coordinated event management for the Athletics Department from 2018-2020.
In Welch's first season leading Asbury women's soccer in 2023, the Eagles went 2-9-4. In a season that included four ties, AU lost three matches by only one goal. AU featured multiple encouraging underclassmen with upperclassman planning to return in 2024.
WELCH'S CAREER NUMBERS
Year by Year at Asbury University
| Year |
Overall |
Pct. |
Conf. |
Pct. |
Highlights |
| 2023 |
2-9-4 |
.267 |
|
|
* Recorded first career win over Berea, 5-0 |
| 2024 |
9-8-5 |
.523 |
4-2-2 |
.625 |
* CCS Semifinals Appearance
* NCCAA Mideast Region Championship
* CCS Coach of the Year |
| Totals |
11-17-9 |
.419 |
4-2-2 |
.625 |
|
