Football
Joel Welsh
- Title:
- Head Football Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Email:
- football@msu.edu
- Phone:
- 355-1647
A veteran strength and conditioning coach of more than 15 years, Joel Welsh was named the head football strength and conditioning coach by head coach Pat Fitzgerald in December 2025.
Welsh was the Director of Strength and Conditioning overseeing football at Central Michigan from 2019-24 before getting promoted to Associate Athletic Director for Sport Performance at CMU in 2025. In his new role at CMU this past year, he collaborated with all performance units, including strength and conditioning, sports medicine, nutrition, mental health and sports science.
"Our program will be modeled on player development, and it became abundantly clear after researching and talking with coaches in the profession that Joel was the right person to lead us in strength and conditioning," said Fitzgerald. "With his background, he has the pedigree and plan that will give our players the best opportunity to succeed on Saturdays."
Welsh previously led the strength and conditioning program for three years (2017-19) at Delaware State, working with football, men's basketball, women's volleyball, track and field, equestrian and women's golf. He was recognized by the Division of Student Affairs in 2018 with the Quiet Champion Award and was honored in 2017 with the Athletic Director's Choice Award as the employee of the year.
A native of Bronx, New York, Welsh's first full-time position was at Iowa from 2012-16 as an assistant strength and conditioning coach. During his time in Iowa City, the Hawkeyes reached four bowl games, including the 2016 Rose Bowl.
Welsh's career began as a strength and conditioning coordinator at Queens College, followed by an internship at Fordham and a graduate assistant position at Springfield (Mass.) College from 2010-12.
He graduated with a bachelor's degree in family nutrition and exercise science from Queens College in 2010, and earned his master's degree in strength and conditioning from Springfield College in 2012.
Welsh is certified by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association and is a USA Weightlifting – Level 1 Sports Performance Coach.
Welsh and his wife, Mara, have two sons, Roman and Maddox, and a daughter, Raina.
THE WELSH FILE
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
Strength and conditioning coordinator at Queens College (N.Y.) (2008)
Strength and conditioning intern at Fordham (2010)
Graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach, Springfield College (Mass.) (2010-12)
Assistant strength and conditioning coach at Iowa (2012-16)
Head strength and conditioning coach at Delaware State (2017-19)
Director of strength and conditioning at Central Michigan (2019-24)
Associate Athletic Director for Sport Performance at Central Michigan (2025)
Welsh was the Director of Strength and Conditioning overseeing football at Central Michigan from 2019-24 before getting promoted to Associate Athletic Director for Sport Performance at CMU in 2025. In his new role at CMU this past year, he collaborated with all performance units, including strength and conditioning, sports medicine, nutrition, mental health and sports science.
"Our program will be modeled on player development, and it became abundantly clear after researching and talking with coaches in the profession that Joel was the right person to lead us in strength and conditioning," said Fitzgerald. "With his background, he has the pedigree and plan that will give our players the best opportunity to succeed on Saturdays."
Welsh previously led the strength and conditioning program for three years (2017-19) at Delaware State, working with football, men's basketball, women's volleyball, track and field, equestrian and women's golf. He was recognized by the Division of Student Affairs in 2018 with the Quiet Champion Award and was honored in 2017 with the Athletic Director's Choice Award as the employee of the year.
A native of Bronx, New York, Welsh's first full-time position was at Iowa from 2012-16 as an assistant strength and conditioning coach. During his time in Iowa City, the Hawkeyes reached four bowl games, including the 2016 Rose Bowl.
Welsh's career began as a strength and conditioning coordinator at Queens College, followed by an internship at Fordham and a graduate assistant position at Springfield (Mass.) College from 2010-12.
He graduated with a bachelor's degree in family nutrition and exercise science from Queens College in 2010, and earned his master's degree in strength and conditioning from Springfield College in 2012.
Welsh is certified by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association and is a USA Weightlifting – Level 1 Sports Performance Coach.
Welsh and his wife, Mara, have two sons, Roman and Maddox, and a daughter, Raina.
THE WELSH FILE
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
Strength and conditioning coordinator at Queens College (N.Y.) (2008)
Strength and conditioning intern at Fordham (2010)
Graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach, Springfield College (Mass.) (2010-12)
Assistant strength and conditioning coach at Iowa (2012-16)
Head strength and conditioning coach at Delaware State (2017-19)
Director of strength and conditioning at Central Michigan (2019-24)
Associate Athletic Director for Sport Performance at Central Michigan (2025)
A New Era | Pat Fitzgerald's First Day in East Lansing
Wednesday, December 03
Pat Fitzgerald | Football Press Conference | Dec. 2nd, 2025
Tuesday, December 02
Jonathan Smith Postgame Comments | Maryland
Saturday, November 29
Jonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Nov. 24 2025
Monday, November 24
