Virginia Coach Retires

Tue., Dec. 12, 2000

A tearful George Welsh retired as Virginia’s football coach, 19 years after turning the Cavaliers from a laughingstock into a contender.

“I am now and will be forever a Wahoo,” the 67-year-old coach said before pausing to collect himself. “It’s time for this old salt to sail off into the sunset.”

Welsh came to Virginia from Navy to take over a program so bad its team was mockingly referred to as the “Cadavaliers.” He leaves as the winningest coach in Atlantic Coast Conference history.

When Welsh arrived at Virginia in 1982, the Cavaliers had a 33-121-11 record in the ACC and had never been to a bowl. Since his arrival, they are 85-51-3 and will be making their 12th bowl appearance this month. His career record is 189-131-4.

Georgia athletic director Vince Dooley will interview Florida State offensive coordinator Mark Richt about the Bulldogs’ coaching vacancy, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

A.J. Cohen, a senior wide receiver for the University of Dayton and younger brother of St. Louis Rams linebacker Dustin Cohen, was found dead after a fire gutted the two-story wooden house near campus he rented from the school.

The death of the 21-year-old economics major was ruled a homicide by the coroner’s office Monday.

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Virginia Coach Retires

Jesse Tinsley

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