Walt Wells returned to the EKU coaching staff in the spring of 2015 as the assistant head coach. Wells, who previously coached at EKU from 1997-2002, will work with the offensive line.
The veteran collegiate coach brings more than 20 years of coaching experience to the sidelines as both an offensive line coach and coordinator. Besides his stops at Eastern Kentucky, Wells has also spent time at USF, Western Kentucky and New Mexico State.
Wells and EKU head coach Dean Hood worked together under legendary head coach Roy Kidd in 1997 and 1998. The Colonels won the 1997 Ohio Valley Conference title with a perfect 7-0 mark and advanced to the NCAA FCS playoffs. In his first stint at Eastern, Wells coached seven All-OVC players and an All-American. EKU ranked among top 15 nationally in rushing with Wells on the coaching staff in both 2001 and 2002.
Last year at New Mexico State, Wells helped center Valerian Ume-Ezeoke earn All-Sun Belt accolades. The Aggies allowed just 10 sacks all year, which ranked second best nationally. Ume-Ezeoke went on to sign a free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
Wells spent the 2013 season at the USF as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Under Wells, tight end Mike McFarland and tailback Marcus Shaw were named second team All-AAC selections. He also guided wide receiver Andre Davis to a program record in single season receiving yards (735).
Prior to joining the South Florida coaching staff in December 2012, Wells spent 10 years at Western Kentucky working with the offensive line. The final four years of his stay at WKU, Wells’ role expanded to offensive coordinator and running game coordinator.
Four Hilltopper offensive linemen earned All-America honors under Wells’ direction, and the Hilltoppers ranked in the top four in the Sun Belt Conference in rushing each of his final four seasons at WKU – leading the league with 181.6 rushing yards per game in 2011 and improving that number to 186.2 yards per game in 2012.
As a result of Wells’ mentoring, Adam Smith, a four-year starter, went on to sign a free agent contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 2012 season. Wells also produced Greg Ryan, who earned a free-agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens in 2009. Ryan started all 12 games on the WKU offensive line in 2008, seeing time at multiple positions in an effort to help younger players develop.
In Wells’ first season at Western Kentucky in 2003, his offensive line helped pave the way for a unit that gained 5,129 total yards and scored 427 points. Both of those figures still rank in the top five in the school single season record books.
Wells’ collegiate coaching career began in 1994 at Cumberland (Tenn.) as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. He led an offense that twice topped the NAIA in rushing, while helping the Bulldogs reach a top-15 national ranking. Wells also spent two years as an assistant at Smyrna (Tenn.) High School.
Wells earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Belmont in 1993 after transferring from Austin Peay, where he was on the football team for four years, having started and lettered in two of those seasons. He added a master’s degree in human relations management in 1995 at Cumberland.
Wells and his wife, Jennifer, have two children - Madison and K.J.
Coaching Experience
Smyrna (Tenn.) High School (Assistant Coach, 1992-93)
Cumberland University (Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coord., 1994-96)
Eastern Kentucky (Offensive Line/Tight Ends Coach, 1997-02)
Western Kentucky University (Offensive Line Coach, 2003-08), (Offensive Coord./OL Coach, 2009), (Running Game Coord./OL Coach, 2010-12)
University of South Florida (Offensive Coord./OL Coach, 2013)
New Mexico State University (Offensive Line Coach, 2014)
Eastern Kentucky (Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line, 2015-present)
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