Where Are They Now: Ally Welch

MACON, Ga. – We all know about the great accomplishments that Mercer student-athletes have achieved during their time as a Bear, but what are they up to after they graduate? Today, we take a look inside former Mercer women's basketball player Ally Welch and her career after Mercer.

Welch played on the women's basketball team from 2015-19 and was a member of the winningest graduating class in program history, going 104-27 to become the first class to eclipse the century mark in wins. The Cumming, Ga., native played in 77 games throughout her career, contributing to the Bears winning four-straight regular season SoCon titles and a pair of tournament championships.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY FROM YOUR TIME WITH MERCER BASKETBALL?
It would be easy to say that the championships and the big games were a highlight, but I think it was my senior year after the season. The seniors all got to go to Sunrise with Susie and we talked about a lot of memories and things that we had remembered from our time there. It was that conversation in front of people who knew us and followed us. Telling stories that the fans and the coaches had forgotten all about and behind the scenes things no one knew much about but were big and stuck with us throughout our time here. It was just the reflection on the culmination of our careers and how fun and good we made it.

FOR SOME BACKGROUND, WHAT WAS YOUR MAJOR AT MERCER?
While at Mercer I was a holistic child major, earning my certification in K-5 general education and special education.

HAVE YOU EARNED ANY ADDITIONAL DEGREES (MASTERS, PHD, CERTIFICATES) ETC. SINCE GRADUATING?
After I got my teaching certification, I then went back and took another GACE (Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators) exam in Adapted Curriculum which expanded my certification and allowed me to fit into the Special Ed. world a little better.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE SINCE GRADUATING? (LIFE, CAREER ETC.)
I am currently working at my old high school [South Forsyth] where I am a freshman volleyball coach and also a JV and varsity assistant basketball coach. I just signed a contract with my old elementary school for the 2020-2021 school year where I will have my own ACA (adapted curriculum autism) classroom.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS FOR THE COMING YEARS?
My most imperative goal is to find my footing on a new team. I'm moving into a new role, at a new school, with new expectations. I want to find my fit there all while truly stepping into my first teaching role.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?
Ten years is a long time. From a career standpoint, I see myself in a school that I will retire from and continuing to perfect and correct teaching strategies. From a life prospective, I'd like to see myself still involved in basketball, taking a group of kids and coaching them up over a long period of time to see their growth and being a large part of their sports career like the coaches I had growing up.

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Players Mentioned

Ally Welch

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