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Former Tennessee, Kentucky assistant hired as Eastern Kentucky’s head coach
By Dave Holcomb
Published:
Eastern Kentucky announced this week it will hire former Tennessee and Kentucky assistant coach Walt Wells as its next head coach. Wells is the second straight ex-Volunteers coach hired to the next head coach at Eastern Kentucky.
“This is a place that is very close to my heart, and my wife Jennifer’s heart,” Wells said in a statement according to The Tennessean. “Our daughter was born here, and I look forward to bringing my son here, too. EKU has a proud tradition, and I look forward to continuing that tradition.”
This is Wells’ third stint at Eastern Kentucky. He served as an assistant coach from 1997-2002 and then returned to be the team’s offensive line coach in 2015. He was Kentucky’s quality control coach the last two seasons.
In between, Wells was a member of Tennessee’s coaching staff under Butch Jones from 2016-17. He was an offensive quality control assistant in 2016 and then the team’s offensive line coach in 2017.
Our new head coach Walt Wells was introduced at today’s press conference!#AMatterOfPride#HellsBellsHereComesWells pic.twitter.com/ogUmiO8J9o
— EKU Football (@EKUFootball) December 10, 2019
Eastern Kentucky’s previous head coach, Mark Elder, was Tennessee’s special teams and tight ends coach under Butch Jones from 2013-15. Elder posted a 21-24 record and was fired from Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 25.
Dave covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
