Andy Welkley, entering his third season, joined the UAlbany track and field staff as a throwing coach for the 2009 outdoor season. Welkley will primarily focus on guiding discus, hammer, and shot put events along with training assistance with the javelin throwers.
UAlbany's women's shot putters and discus throwers had a successful 2010 season, accumulating 39 points in the two events at the America East outdoor championship under the guidance of Welkley. The Great Danes had four shot putters and three discus throwers place in the top six at the meet. Welkley most notably mentored Catie Coxon, the league's discus champion who advanced to NCAA East Preliminary Round. In addition, four athletes registered a top-eight finish in the women's shot put at the America East indoor championship. Stephen Hassard was an all-conference selection in the men's discus. Welkley oversaw two America East champions and six all-conference honorees during the 2009 outdoor season. In addition, three of the four women's school records were broken as well as the standard in the men's hammer throw.
Welkley began his coaching career at the La Salle Institute in Troy, N.Y. in 1989 before moving on to mentor the throwers at Tamarac High School in 2004. He has coached 10 Section II champions and three state finalists. Welkley has also worked as a physics teacher while coaching at each school, and has used the discipline to understand the flight mechanics of each implement and how to apply biomechanics to help an athlete move the correct way to apply the greatest force to the implement.
Welkley, who hopes to see all of his throwers score at the America East indoor and outdoor championship meets this year, received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and obtained a third mate's license to sail cargo ships at SUNY Maritime in 1985. He obtained teacher's certifications in physics, general science and mathematics for grades 7-12 at Siena College in 1988 before earning a master's degree in educational administration from The College of Saint Rose in 2000. He resides in North Greenbush with his wife, Gail, and son, Ethan (9).
