John Welch set for second stint with Fresno State basketball

Fresno State will soon tip-off a new era of Bulldog men's basketball. But a key part of the 2024-25 staff dates back to the exciting times of the past Jerry Tarkanian era. Assistant coach John Welch, who is now back for his second stint on campus, discussed his return with BarkBoard.com.

Welch was early in his coaching career when he joined Tark on the Fresno State coaching staff from 1995 to 2002. The staff's seven-year run included seven winning seasons, six 20-win campaigns, and two trips to the NCAA Tournament.

"It was a good time," Welch recalled. "I'm very appreciative of Coach Tarkanian and it was a lot of fun."

From there, Welch had a long run in the NBA. He was an assistant coach for nearly two decades with stops at the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers. Welch returned to college last year at Kentucky under famed head coach John Calipari. The Wildcats had a 23-10 record and earned a No. 3 seed for the NCAA Tournament.

After working at the top professional level and one of the NCAA's biggest stages, he'll now aim to bring back the high-level hoops that once took place at Fresno State.

"I'm excited to be back,' Welch said. "It's amazing how a lot of things in the city have changed. A lot of things at the school and certain people, they're the same people I had been around 25 years ago, which really makes me feel comfortable.

A chance to work with new head coach Vance Walberg has now lured him back to the Central Valley. The two have a long history working together.

"As a head coach, Coach Walberg has I think 46 years of head coaching experience at all levels," Welch said. "I think his experience, his work ethic - it's something that we're gonna try to do everything we can to help build Fresno State basketball into a successful program.

"If anyone deserved a chance at this job, I thought it was Coach Walberg. And when I had the opportunity to go with him, I just love to try to help make him successful here anyway I can."

Welch is back into the swing of college hoops and Walberg was last at the NCAA level in 2011 as an assistant at UMass. Yet neither of the two has been hindered by the drastic changes at the NCAA level in recent years. The Bulldogs successfully recruited 14 new players and assembled competitive NIL funds in their very first offseason.

"The good thing is that for everybody - even if you've been in college for the last 25 years - it's changing so much," Welch said. "So it's new for everybody. I think the people of Fresno have been supportive of the basketball program historically. And with their support, I think it's allowed us to put together a good team."

Walberg has been a mainstay in Central Valley basketball for his head coaching runs at Clovis West High School and Fresno City College. While this season marks his first official role with the Bulldogs, it turns out he did influence some of what sold-out crowds saw at Selland Arena in the Tark era.

"I met Vance when I was here 25 years ago when he was at Clovis West," Welch revealed. "Coach Tarkanian met him and he'd come over and meet with our staff. We implemented a lot of his ideas. Not fully, but different parts of his defense and his offense. I always really respected Vance as a coach. I learned a lot from him

"I would go over to Clovis West in the P.E. office and I'd have my notebook taking notes. And I think they'd be like, 'Why is the college coach over here learning from the high school coach?' Coach is as respected as any coach out there. I think a lot of people - Coach Calipari - a lot of people use him as a resource and apply his ideas and concepts."

Walberg's schemes were unorthodox at the time. Now "parts" have become commonplace at all levels of basketball. Walberg worked alongside Welch on the NBA coaching staffs of the Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings from 2012 to 2016. The dribble-drive offense features up-tempo offense, a focus on 3-pointers and layups, and is paired with high-pressure man defense.

Installing the entirety of the scheme is what Walberg does best himself, Welch said.

"It's the little things and how he stresses the little things," Welch explained. "I think that's what separates his teams, because he demands that everything is done right - even the little things. I think those little things add up and I think that's what has led to his teams' success.

"I think the biggest thing is not what you do, but how you do it. When you're implementing someone else's system, you're not able to see the mistakes and correct them immediately … Other people using his system, they just don't teach it as well. The other thing is his style of play, it just all fits together. With the dribble-drive motion, with the pressing, with the defense - everything he does is kind of like a piece of the puzzle. Everything is fast. So it's a bunch of little things that ll come together that lead to the success of his teams."

Fresno State fans can get their first look at Welch, Walberg and the Bulldogs men's basketball team this weekend. The Red & White scrimmage will be held Sunday, Nov. 3, from noon to 1:30 p.m. PT at the Save Mart Center. The scrimmage will begin at 12:30 p.m. PT. Complimentary donuts and beverages will be provided. An autograph session will follow the conclusion of the practice.

The season officially begins on Nov. 8 when the 'Dogs host Sacramento State. The game will have a 7 p.m. PT tip-off.