Harry Welch, one of the most successful coaches in Santa Clarita Valley history, has cancer.

The 65-year-old, in his first season as head football coach of Santa Margarita Catholic High in Rancho Santa Margarita, confirmed to The Signal on Tuesday that he has prostate cancer.

"Yes," he said on if he is scared. After a long pause, he said, "You didn't ask me if I believe and trust in my doctors. Yeah I am (scared)."

Welch left Canyon High in 2007 after two of the greatest runs in SCV sports history.

He led Canyon football from 1982 to 1994, winning three CIF-Southern Section division championships, and also from 2001 to 2006 when he won two more division titles.

Welch departed Canyon after winning the 2006 CIF-Division I State Championship.

He discovered he had the cancer after a fellow Crespi High alumnus, who is a cancer survivor, urged Welch to get a checkup.

"I'm going to beat this thing," Welch said. "If I don't, I want to leave a legacy of ‘get after it. Protect yourself and your family.'"

Welch said he went public with his illness in hopes that it will convince others to get a checkup.
He said he's received a lot of reaction - both positive and negative.

Welch joked, "I wouldn't get cancer to grandstand."

From 2007 to 2009, he coached St. Margaret's, a small Episcopalian school in San Juan Capistrano, to three more division titles and also won a state title for the Tartans in 2008. In doing so, he became the first coach in state history to win two state championships with two different schools.

Welch accepted the head coaching position at Santa Margarita, the school that produced Heisman Trophy winner and Cincinnati Bengal Carson Palmer, in January.

His debut with the team is scheduled for Sept. 3 against Diamond Ranch.

Welch will coach his team against Los Alamitos on Oct. 2, then have his prostate removed the next day.

He said he plans to coach the team in its next game on Oct. 15.

"I really believe I'm going to beat it," he said.