HS FOOT: Ex-Canyon coach Welch recovering from heart surgery

Harry Welch, who won five section titles and one state title at Canyon before winning a section title in his first season this past December at St. Margaret's in San Juan Capistrano, is recovering from heart surgery Friday in La Jolla to repair Arrhythmia, which caused an irregular heartbeat,

Welch, 63, known as one of the area's toughest taskmasters in his day, is in good spirits.

"For all those people all those years who said I didn't have a heart, I now have emperical evidence that I do," Welch said with a smirk. "The doctor said I should take a week and a half off, but I said three days. I thought that was a good compromise."

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com