John, i understand your sadness but lots of coaches have injuries and no team should weigh in on the strength of one player. you haven't been watching the games closely, of course, but this isn't an issue of injuries, although they don't help any coach. It's things like having Weynimi Efijuku sitting on the bench the entire Pitt game, the insufficient use of Randall Hanke and Jon Kale. The overuse of Greedy Peterson at the Big East game in spite of the fact that he rarely saw time this year at all, and very minimal time in the games prior to the Big East Game. And leaving him in the game in spite of costly freshman mistakes. All while experienced Charlie Burch and Jon Kale sat on the bench. Welsh just doesn't know how to use his players or when. That's been a repeating pattern. In the Big East against West Virginia a few years ago he barely used Hanke when it could have made a difference. There is a disconnect there in how and when to use his players that is what really cost the games. There is the inability to communicate in the right way with several players, and the loss of many players in his tenure. It's the day to day stuff that has cost us all. When it's all put together, Welsh just doesn't know how to keep it together. The players have not been adequately coached to anticipate in advance. While several of them make errors during games, some of the errors wouldn't happen in the first place if coached to anticipate. There's just something missing in Welsh that isn't up to the Big East level in spite of the fact that there was alot good with Welsh. There are just too many times that the observer would have to ask "what the heck is he thinking". This is all good.

Kevin - thanks very much for posting that.

With all due respect to Mr. Linehan, who obviously had a relationship with Mr. Welsh, the time most definitely had come. You are talking about a coach whose teams consistently died on him down the stretch. You are talking about a coach who won exactly one game in the Big East tournament in a decade. You are talking about a coach whose teams had an 0-2 NCAA tournament record in 10 years. You are talking about a coach who took a first-team All-American (Ryan Gomes) return as a senioor, and instead of building an offense around him, instead watched his performance seriously decline.

I think almost everyone will agree that this is a move that might not have been easy to make, but one that was long overdue.

Right Bob, and let's not forget Tim Welsh having Herbert Hill sit on the bench for THREE years as a rarely used player, who only got out there at last in his senior year due to Randall Hanke's injury. Low, and behold, Welsh had a star sitting on his bench - one who then became the Big East most improved player of the year and was drafted by the NBA. IN SPITE OF TIM WELSH. Does anyone think that Herbert Hill's talent just miraculously appeared? He had it all along - but it was just sitting on the bench with him. I wonder how many of those close games we might have won prior to Herbert's senior year had Welsh had the brains to use Herbert Hill Welsh doesn't know the talent he has, how to cultivate that talent or how to use it. Ding dong the witch is dead!!!! The ones who have suffered are the kids.......Welsh was clueless - repeatedly! This is something that Bob Driscoll should have done a few years ago.

So great to see the post from one of my favorite ex-Friars. I agree with you John, that Coach Welch has had his share of bad luck. It was nice to see that his former players still have his back. Unfortunately, I think that his time ran out here in Providence. We were patient with Coach Welch for many years, and kept waiting for him to show us that we were wrong about him. I think the patience just wore out.
I have been wondering what happened to you, John, since you left that USDL team (can't remember the name) somewhere down south. Are you playing ball in France? You are the only player in history that i would pay to watch play defense. Still remember how you tortured Omar Cook from St. Johns. Best of luck to you, my friend.