Officials say former Thomson High School football coach Luther Welsh, who had a legendary career at the small Georgia school, has died. He was 78.

McDuffie County Coroner Rusha Mack tells WRDW-TV that Welsh died shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday. He had been hospitalized since Wednesday.

Thomson High School's football players were told the news Friday morning after practice, when Head Coach Milan Turner asked the team to pray for the family.

The Augusta Chronicle reports that Welsh coached Thomson to three state championships in his two stints and retired after last season's 9-3 record.