AUDIBLE PUTS WELCH BACK IN GAME.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Local

With the William S. Hart Unified School District in a prevent defense, clever Harry Welch called a draw play.

The result was a touchdown.

Welch, the mastermind of Canyon High's memorable run of dominance in the 1980s, is coaching football again, this time as an assistant at Valencia High. He's there thanks to some nifty legal work that countered a childish decision by the Hart district to prevent Welch from coaching the Vikings.

Ever since Welch was passed over for the Canyon job last summer, then considered an offer to join Brian Stiman at Valencia, the district has invoked a seldom-used rule that disallows teachers from one school coaching at another within the district. Welch teaches at Canyon.

It was an ignoble maneuver made by administrators with long memories who hold grudges. They weren't about to forget how Welch successfully sued the district and the Southern Section after receiving a one-year's suspension after an assistant illegally used blocking sleds during a spring practice in 1991. Or how Welch and Canyon dominated the 1980s, winning three Southern Section championships and a record-tying 46 straight games at one point.

So even though teachers from one school currently coach at other schools in the Hart district, the same courtesy was not extended to Welch, essentially denying him - out of spite - the right to do something he loves.

But Welch outfoxed them. There's a rule in the California code of education, which supersedes district law, that says within a district preferential priority for athletic positions shall be given to teachers presently employed by the district.

Basically, the district had no right to block Welch from coaching at Valencia.

Welch's attorney showed the rule to the district, they haggled over it for about a month, and an agreement was finally reached last Thursday that allowed Welch to join Stiman.

Welch was calling plays the following night, even though he had not been to a single practice beforehand. Valencia crushed Burroughs 64-8, scoring 57 points in the first half.

``I was just hoping I didn't come in and mess things up,'' Welch said, laughing. ``These kids have done a great job all year, and I sure didn't want to mess it all up.''

Little chance of that happening. After all, Valencia is running the same exact offense that Welch used to win all those championships in the 1980s.

Stiman had been calling plays prior to Friday, but he graciously turned over the responsibility to his former mentor.

``He understands this offense pretty well, he spent quite a few years doing the same thing,'' said Stiman, who was an assistant at Canyon under Welch. ``Besides, it frees me up to do a lot of other things. It's really is a big help.''

Ideally, Welch would like to be coaching at Canyon. But that door closed when the school chose Jack Bowman, formerly of Saugus, to replace Larry Mohr. It was a job Welch pursued vigorously, even thought he had at one point. He was bitterly disappointed when he got passed over, although he harbors no ill-will toward Bowman.

``I did everything I could to coach at Canyon, I put the greatest effort in and felt I had community support,'' Welch said. ``But when I didn't get it, Valencia really welcomed me and made me feel I was wanted. That was very important.''

Unfortunately, the district wasn't as accommodating. Its decision to block Welch from joining Stiman's staff was unfortunate, especially since so many other teachers are coaching at other schools within the district. Quite simply, the district was holding Welch to a different standard.

``If you're going to ask one person to do it, then you have to ask everybody to do it,'' Stiman said. ``Let's just say it was a strange decision, to say the least.''

Neither Welch or Stiman will say if this is just a temporary thing, or if he'll return next year. They'll see how it goes, then figure the rest out later. Welch just appreciates the chance to coach again. His first practice was on Monday.

``I probably love practice more than the games,'' Welch said. ``I've always enjoyed the process, working with young men at practice. Some people are game-day coaches, but I've always enjoyed the day-after-day aspect, the long haul.''

Let's hope he stays in it for the long haul.