RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky head football coach Walt Wells was named the 2021 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Region 3 Co-Coach of the Year, the organization announced Monday.

Wells, along with fellow region honoree Eric Dooley from Prairie View A&M, will now be a finalist for AFCA FCS National Coach of the Year. All winners will be honored on Monday, January 10, during the 2022 AFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas. 

In his second season at the helm, Wells led the Colonels to a 7-4 record, marking the biggest one-year improvement in program history. EKU went 5-1 at Roy Kidd Stadium and defeated three teams that were ranked in the preseason top-25. The Colonels are also currently ranked among the top-25 in numerous statistical categories, including kickoff returns (3rd, 27.5 yards per return), defensive touchdowns (4th, 4), red-zone offense (4th, 93.9), red-zone defense (16th, 72.3), fumbles lost (19th, 4), and sacks allowed (19th, 1.27 per game).

EKU won five consecutive games for the first time since 2014, beginning the streak with a 35-27 win over No. 19 Austin Peay. The Colonels rallied from a 22-point road deficit to beat Central Arkansas and rose as high as No. 19 in the national polls during the season. 

Wells was honored as the first ASUN Coach of the Year as EKU claimed three individual conference honors and placed six players on the all-conference team.