Head coach Walt Wells took over the Eastern Kentucky University football program on Dec. 9, 2019 as the 15
th head coach in program history.
Since then, he has led a resurgence in Colonel football as EKU has captured an ASUN Conference Championship in 2022 and two FCS Playoff appearances (2022, 2024) the first coach to lead the Colonels to multiple playoff appearances in a decade.
The success has garnered national recognition with the Colonels finishing the 2024 season in the final Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and AFCA Polls at No. 21/25 respectively, the first time the Colonels had done so since 2014.
Compiling a 30-26 record as head coach, the Colonels have recorded a win over a top-25 opponent in every season under Wells’ leadership including back-to-back top-25 wins in 2024 against then No. 7 Tarleton State on the road, 17-13, before returning to Roy Kidd Stadium for a 31-24 win over No. 16 Central Arkansas.
Student-athletes have found immense success as well developing under Wells’ leadership with 11 different Colonels earning All-American honors while playing for him, with three in Matthew Jackson, T.K. McClendon, and Josiah Ezirim currently playing in the NFL.
Additionally, former Colonels in punter Jeremy Edwards and linebacker Willie Taylor III are active in the CFL and UFL respectively.
The 2025 season will be his sixth as head coach of the Eastern Kentucky University Colonels.
2024
2024 was a season for the record books as the Colonels made it back to the FCS Playoffs for the 23’rd time in program history, the second-most in the NCAA all-time with an 8-5 overall record finishing in both FCS top-25 polls.
Five of those eight wins came in a winning streak to end the regular season including two over then nationally ranked teams in the UAC in Tarleton State and Central Arkansas.
The Colonels also went a perfect 6-0 at CG Bank Field at Roy Kidd Stadium, the first undefeated season at home since 2010.
Additionally, running back Joshua Carter recorded three-consecutive game-winning touchdowns in EKU’s wins over No. 7 Tarleton St., No. 16 Central Arkansas, and Austin Peay.
In the final win over Austin Peay, Carter saved his best for last with a thrilling walk-off winner in overtime breaking through multiple APSU defenders on a 23-yard touchdown run on the second play of EKU's overtime possession lifting the Colonels to a 30-27 win.
Against APSU, Josh Carter eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards this season and 2,000 rushing yards in a career.
He became the 17th and 18th individual to accomplish those feats at EKU.
The defense saw a resurgence in 2024 for EKU allowing only 23.7 points per game, marking a nearly 10-point improvement from 2023.
The defense was spearheaded by captain and All-American defensive back Mike Smith Jr. who ended the season tied for the most interceptions in the UAC with four, and was the rated the 10
th best safety in all of Division I football by Pro Football Focus.
His impressive final season in Maroon and White saw him earn unanimous First Team All-UAC honors along with All-American honors from four separate publications as the Jacksonville, Fla. native earned first team recognition from the Walter Camp Football Foundation and AFCA, third team by FCS Central, and fourth team by Phil Steele.
Smith also accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl.
He was joined in receiving All-American honors by Payton Collins who finished a stellar career at EKU with a program record, 54 career starts.
Collins anchored the Colonels’ offensive line starting every game earning First Team All-UAC recognition along with three All-American selections including a first team selection by Stats Perform FCS.
Two freshmen in Marcus Calwise Jr. and Tyrell Green earned Freshmen All-American honors from FCS Central and Phil Steele.
2024 saw the most all-conference selections in the Wells’ era in seven with Collins, Smith, Maddox Marcellus, Jacob Baker, and Patrick Nations earning first team recognition from the UAC.
They were joined by second-team members Darrian Baker and Jaheim Ward.
Nations was unanimous all-conference selection while also being the league’s specialist of the year.
A preseason All-American, Nations ended his EKU career with the program records in field goals made with 54 and kicking points in a Colonel career with 309.
In 2024, Nations went 9-of-13 on field goals with a long of 48, with 3,758 total kickoff yards including a conference-leading 40 touchbacks.
The Colonels got it done in the classroom as well in 2024 recording the program’s highest fall-term GPA, 2.934.
12 Colonels recorded perfect 4.0 GPAs with 17 earning Dean’s and/or President’s list distinction, and a total of 74 earning Colonel Scholar recognition with a 3.0 GPA or higher term GPA.
2023
The fourth season of the Walt Wells era was one of late game dramatics with the average point differential against FCS opponents being 4.8 points per game. EKU went 5-4 against FCS opponents and 4-2 in the inaugural season of the United Athletic Conference.
The Colonels first win came against then No. 16 South East Missouri , as EKU came back from being down 17-0 in the game to win 41-38 as Patrick Nations drilled a 46-yard field goal to seal the win.
The game winning field goal was set up after an 86-yard drive with 2:34 remaining capped off with a two-yard touchdown pass from Parker McKinney to Jackson Hensley tying the game at 38 all with 30 seconds remaining. EKU's defense then stepped up as Jeremiah Bailey stripped the SEMO quarterback on their own-28 as Darius Sterling recovered the loose ball setting up the game-winning field goal.
Two weeks later, on Homecoming the Colonels treated the fans at Roy Kidd Stadium to a classic, defeating conference foe Tarleton State, 41-35 in double-overtime. In the second overtime LB Logan Blake picked off the TSU quarterback before McKinney sealed the win with a QB sneak from one-yard out to earn the win.
On the season the Colonels were led by their three All-Americans in offensive lineman Josiah Ezirim, linebacker Logan Blake, and all-purpose selection Braedon Sloan. Additionally, in all conference recognition, QB Parker McKinney, TE Hunter Brown, OL Payton Collins and Josiah Ezirim, and LB Logan Blake earned first team All-UAC honors.
McKinney closed out his historic career as a Colonel with program records in passing attempts (1,719), completions (1081), yards (12,751) passing touchdowns(94), and total offense(14,422). He leaves Richmond with the 11th most passing yards in FCS history.
Logan Blake finished the season 4th in the FCS in total tackles with 114.
2022
In his third season at EKU, Wells led the Colonels to their first NCAA FCS Playoff berth since 2014 and a share of the ASUN regular-season championship. EKU went 6-2 against FCS opponents and beat an FBS team for the first time in eight seasons. The Colonels rose to No. 16 in the national polls and posted a 5-2 mark at Roy Kidd Stadium. Wells earned the ASUN Coach of the Year honor for the second consecutive season.
The Colonels beat FBS foe Bowling Green 59-57 in seven overtimes, which tied the record for the second-longest game in Division I football history. EKU also knocked off No. 15 Southeast Missouri on the road for the program's third win over a ranked opponent in as many seasons.
EKU quarterback Parker McKinney was named the ASUN's Co-Offensive Player of the Year and the Colonels landed five players on the All-ASUN team. McKinney was named an All-American, along with offensive lineman Payton Collins, linebacker Matthew Jackson, and running back Braedon Sloan, giving the Colonels four All-Americans for the first time ever in a single season.
During the 2022 campaign, EKU ranked second in the FCS in punt returns, third in passing offense, fifth in third-down conversion percentage, sixth in kickoff returns, eight in completion percentage, 10th in total offense, 11th in scoring offense and team passing efficiency, and 18th in red-zone offense.
2021
In 2021, Wells orchestrated the biggest single-season turnaround in program history as EKU went 7-4 after a 3-6 campaign in the Fall 2020 season that was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Colonels defeated three teams that were ranked in the preseason top-25 and went 5-1 at Roy Kidd Stadium. Eastern Kentucky climbed as high as No. 19 in the national rankings and won five consecutive games for the first time since 2014. Wells was named the ASUN Coach of the Year and was honored as the AFCA FCS Region 3 Co-Coach of the Year.
The Colonels upset No. 19 Austin Peay, 35-27, in Richmond and rallied from a 22-point road deficit to beat Central Arkansas. Eastern Kentucky also won its second consecutive Opportunity Bowl, knocking off Jacksonville State in double-overtime, 39-31.
EKU placed six players on the All-ASUN team while defensive back Davion Ross was named the ASUN Defensive Player of the Year and kicker Patrick Nations won ASUN Special Teams Player of the Year. Ross, Nations, and offensive lineman Payton Collins were each honored as All-Americans.
During 2021, the Colonels ranked second nationally in kickoff return average, fourth in defensive touchdowns and red-zone offense, 15th in red-zone defense, and 19th in sacks allowed.
2020
In his first season that was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Colonels faced one of the toughest schedules in program history. Among the nine games in the fall of 2020 were three contests against FBS teams and two games against a team ranked among the top-25 in the FCS. Wells led EKU to a road win at The Citadel, a near upset of FBS Troy, a victory over No. 11 Central Arkansas and a 49-17 win against Western Carolina in the 2020 Opportunity Bowl.
The Colonels suffered two heartbreaking last-minute losses during the 2020 season. The win over 11th ranked Central Arkansas was the program’s first victory over a ranked team since 2013 and the first win over a non-conference ranked team since 2003 when Eastern Kentucky beat No. 11 Appalachian State.
EKU was recognized as the national team of the week three times during the 2020 season. Quarterback Parker McKinney, wide receiver Keyion Dixon and running back Alonzo Booth each earned national player of the week honors as well.
During the fall 2020 season, Eastern ranked second in the nation in interceptions and passing efficiency, and third in first downs, passing offense, passing yards per completion, fumbles recovered and turnovers gained.
Prior to Becoming Head Coach
Wells served as a quality control assistant at the University of Kentucky during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The 2018 Wildcat team beat Florida for the first time in 32 years, posted the program’s best Southeastern Conference (SEC) record in 41 years and beat No. 12-ranked Penn State in the VRBO Citrus Bowl. All totaled, the 10-3 record was Kentucky's best season in 41 years and only the third 10-win season in school history.
In 2019, the Wildcats won seven games and reach bowl eligibility again. Wells’ responsibilities included breaking down the opponents’ offense for the UK defense. The Kentucky defense ranked fourth in the nation in passing yards allowed, ninth in passing efficiency defense, 12th in scoring defense, 14th in fewest first downs allowed, 20th in total defense, 23rd in red-zone defense and 31st in sacks in 2019.
From 2016 to 2017, Wells worked on the staff at the University of Tennessee. He was an offensive quality control coach, working primarily with the offensive line during the 2016 season, and served as the offensive line coach during the 2017 season. He worked closely with the UT line that paved the way for 2,668 rushing yards (5.2 yards per carry) in 2016. The Vol offense also ranked 24th in the nation in scoring that season (36.4 points per game). Wells coached Freshman All-American and All-SEC right guard Trey Smith. He was ranked as a top-5 national recruiter.
Wells returned to the EKU coaching staff in the spring of 2015 as the assistant head coach and offensive line coach. His work helped the Colonels average 30.3 points per game, the 35th-most in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Lineman Brett Eyckmans earned first team All-Ohio Valley Conference recognition after the 2015 season.
During his first stint with the Colonels, Eastern won the 1997 OVC title with a perfect 7-0 mark and advanced to the NCAA FCS playoffs. Wells served as Kidd’s tight ends coach from 1997 to 1999, and as the offensive line coach from 2000 to 2002. He coached seven All-OVC players and an All-American. EKU ranked among top-15 nationally in rushing in 2001 and 2002.
“Twenty-two years ago I came here and met coach Kidd and his staff,” Wells said. “I learned many valuable lessons that have carried me through my career. I appreciate them pouring their knowledge into me, and I look forward to now passing that on to our team here.”
The veteran coach brings 25 years of college coaching experience to the sidelines as both an offensive line coach and coordinator. Wells has also spent time at Cumberland University, Western Kentucky, South Florida and New Mexico State.
As the offensive line coach in 2014 at New Mexico State, Wells helped center Valerian Ume-Ezeoke earn All-Sun Belt Conference 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 South Florida as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Under Wells, tight end Mike McFarland and tailback Marcus Shaw were named second team All-American Athletic Conference. He also guided wide receiver Andre Davis to a program record in single season receiving yards (735).
Prior to joining the South Florida staff in December 2012, Wells spent 10 years at Western Kentucky working with the offensive line. During 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 Western ranked in the top four in the Sun Belt Conference in rushing each of his final four seasons – 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 coached Greg Ryan, who earned a free-agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens in 2009, and Anthony Oakley who went on to be a member of the Chicago Bears on their run to Super Bowl XLI in 2007.
Wells’ collegiate coaching career began in 1994 at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee, 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 State University where he was on the football team for four years, having started and lettered in two of those seasons. He received a master’s degree in human relations management in 1995 at Cumberland.
Wells and his wife, Jennifer, have two children - Madison and K.J.
“Becoming the head coach at EKU has always been a career goal of mine,” said Wells. “EKU football has, and will always be, A Matter of Pride.”
Additional Quotes Regarding Walt Wells
“Coach Wells checked all the boxes we looked for in the next EKU football coach. He has the qualities to build on the winning tradition of EKU football and the attributes to engage the community. I am excited for coach Wells to start his own long winning tradition - not only for the past players but our fans. He understands the rich tradition and will embrace that moving forward to the next chapter of EKU football.”
Marc Collins, former Colonel (1992-95)
“As a former player and a parent, it was important to me to find a coach who will connect with the players and help them realize their personal potential in the classroom and on the field. Walt is a great fit for EKU, Richmond and the campus community.”
Bundy McGinnis, former Colonel (1988-91)
“I’m very excited for coach Wells. He did an excellent job for us at UK and I really enjoyed working with him. He’s one of the brightest football minds in the game and is a great recruiter. I know he will do a fantastic job at EKU.”
Mark Stoops, University of Kentucky Head Coach
