SPRINGFIELD, MA - The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the list of eligible candidates for the Class of 2024, including former Iona University men's basketball head coach Jerry Welsh. Welsh was named on the list of 36 nominees on the North America ballot for this summer's class.
Welsh was head coach of the Maroon & Gold for four seasons from 1991-95 earning 47 wins during his tenure. Prior to Iona, Welsh served 22 seasons as head coach at SUNY Potsdam, where he tallied a 494-141 win-loss record. He held an overall combined coaching record of 682-228 from Massena High School, SUNY Potsdam and Iona. He was a two-time NCAA Champion at Potsdam and earned three other national runner-up honors. During his time in New Rochelle, Welsh had two future Iona head coaches on his staff: his son Tim Welsh, and Gael hall of famer Jeff Ruland, serving in his first collegiate coaching job.
The full ballot includes nominees in the categories of North America, Women's, Contributor, International, Women's Veteran and Veteran. Fifteen of the 36 North America nominees appear on the ballot for the first time. High-profile, first-time nominees on all lists include the 2008 U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team, Vince Carter, Seimone Augustus, Bill Laimbeer, Rick Barnes, Mike Fratello and Penny Taylor. Welsh shares the ballot with prominent NCAA Division I college head coaches Barnes, John Beilein, Jim Larranaga and Bo Ryan among others.
Finalists from the Honor's Committee for the Class of 2024 will be announced on Friday, February 16, in Indianapolis, Indiana, during NBA All-Star Weekend. The entire Class of 2024 will be unveiled during the NCAA Final Four in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, April 6, in a nationally televised broadcast. Enshrinement weekend will begin at the Mohegan Sun on Friday, August 16, with the Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala, followed by the Enshrinement ceremony on Saturday, August 17, at Springfield's historic Symphony Hall.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Be sure to follow Iona University athletics on all social media platforms:
Iona Athletics: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
Iona Men's Basketball: Twitter, Facebook. Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)