Harry Welch has been placed on administrative leave

Santa Margarita football Coach Harry Welch has been placed on administrative leave, Diocese of Orange spokesman Stephen Bohannon said on Monday. The leave began on Friday and will continue until the school and Diocese complete an investigation. Bohannon said he could not comment further because it was a personnel matter. Jim Amormino, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department, said police personnel were called to the school recently to investigate an allegation from December regarding Welch but no complaint was filed by the alleged victim or his parents. Amormino said Welch allegedly yelled at a player. Welch is the only coach in state history to guide three different teams to CIF state championship bowl victories, including this past season, when Santa Margarita won the Pac-5 and Division I bowl championship. Santa Margarita received criticism in December over its handling of two assistants coaches who were eventually fired after it was revealed they had pleaded guilty to marijuana possession charges. Welch completed his second season as coach at Santa Margarita after earlier coaching at St. Margaret's and Canyon Country Canyon. Attempts to reach Welch on Friday and Monday have been unsuccessful.

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