The Mark Stoops coaching tree has sprouted a new branch. Today, Eastern Kentucky hired Walt Wells as its new head coach. Wells has served as a quality control assistant under Mark Stoops at Kentucky for the past two seasons. He replaces Mark Elder, whose contract was not renewed following a 21-24 record in the past four seasons.
Wells has a long history with the Colonels, serving as an assistant under Roy Kidd from 1997 to 2002 and assistant head coach and offensive line coach in the 2015 season. From 2016 to 2017, he was an offensive quality control coach at Tennessee before making the move to Lexington.