SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.—SUNY Potsdam legendary basketball coach Jerry Welsh has been named a finalist for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame's Class of 2025. The institution made the announcement this evening at the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities in San Francisco.
 
Welsh and his fellow finalists will be submitted to the Honors Committee for consideration. The Class of 2025 will be announced on April 5, in San Antonio at the NCAA Men's Final Four.
 
Welsh served as the Bears men's basketball coach in 1968-69 and from 1970-71 through 1990-91. In those 22 seasons, he guided the Bears to a 494-143 record for a .776 winning percentage. His teams were even harder to beat SUNYAC play, with a record of 184-49 (.790). Potsdam won eight SUNYAC Titles during his tenure and reached the NCAA Tournament 15 times. Welsh led the Bears to the NCAA Championship game five times, winning titles in 1980-81 and 1985-86. He earned NCAA Division III Coach of the Year honors in each championship season. Welsh's Bears won 60 straight games from 11/22/85-3/14/87. Combined with his time at Massena High School and Division I Iona College, he recorded an overall record of 682 wins and 228 loses for a .749 winning percentage.
 
The Class of 2025 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, Mass., on September 5-6.