Riley Welch, a former walk-on and graduate assistant at Kentucky, has been hired as the special assistant to head coach Jai Lucas for the Miami Hurricanes basketball program. This move reunites Welch with Lucas, who previously served as an assistant coach at Kentucky during Welch's tenure there.
Welcome to The U, @Riley__Welch 🙌 pic.twitter.com/0YV4gh2bJ8
— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) April 18, 2025
Welch's basketball journey began at Chatfield High School in Littleton, Colorado, where he led his team to a 2016 Regional Championship and a CHSAA Final Four appearance. He was a three-time league champion and earned multiple all-conference honors. His performance caught the attention of UC Irvine, where he played as a true freshman during the 2017–18 season, appearing in 27 games.
Seeking more playing time and experience, Welch transferred to College of the Desert for the 2018–19 season. There, he averaged 8.2 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game, leading the team with 134 assists. His best performance was a career-high 29-point game against San Jacinto.
In 2019, Welch joined the University of Kentucky as a walk-on, playing under head coach John Calipari. Over two seasons, he appeared in seven games. After graduating in 2021, Welch transitioned into a graduate assistant role with the Wildcats. Welch's father, John Welch, is a longtime NBA assistant coach and is currently the associate head coach at Fresno State.
Before joining Miami, Welch was with the Grand Rapids Gold, the G League affiliate of the Denver Nuggets. He served as a video coordinator during the 2023–24 season and was promoted to assistant coach for the 2024–25 season.
Head coach Jai Lucas praised Welch's basketball acumen and dedication, stating, "Riley is someone who lives and breathes basketball, having grown up around the sport from a young age. We had the opportunity to cross paths at Kentucky when he was a player and graduate assistant coach, and I knew he'd be the perfect addition to our staff because of his basketball knowledge and positive attitude."
Welch's appointment is part of Lucas's efforts to build a dynamic coaching staff as he embarks on his first season leading the Hurricanes. With Welch's background, and his connection to Lucas, the addition should be a positive one for the Miami program.