Matt Wells - Football Coach - Texas Tech Red Raiders (original) (raw)

Matt Wells served as the 16th head football coach in Texas Tech history, leading the Red Raiders from 2019 to eight games into the 2021 season. Wells was 13-17 overall during his Texas Tech tenure, including a 6-14 mark in Big 12 play.

The 2021 season marked the ninth for Wells as a collegiate head coach following six seasons at his alma mater, Utah State, and nearly three complete years leading the Red Raiders. He led the Aggies to five bowl appearances during his tenure.

In only their first season, Wells and his staff helped Jordyn Brooks and Douglas Coleman III produce their best seasons as Red Raiders, ultimately leading to All-Big 12 first team accolades. Both were strong candidates for national awards as well with Coleman a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and Brooks a finalist for the Butkus Award. They were joined on the All-Big 12 first team by punter Austin McNamara, who led all FBS freshmen after averaging 45.0 yards per punt during the 2019 season.

McNamara was recognized on the All-Big 12 first team again following the 2020 season as he was one of four Red Raiders honored by the conference coaches, joining offensive lineman Jack Anderson, wide receiver Erik Ezukanma and defensive back Zech McPhearson. It marked Tech’s most first-team accolades since 2005, highlighting a challenging season that will be forever remembered for the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The arrival of Wells and his staff was a welcome sight for Brooks, who thrived in a new defensive scheme that helped him rank among the national leaders in total tackles and tackles for a loss. Brooks was a regular in the backfield as he notched 20.0 tackles for a loss as a senior, the most for a Red Raider since Adell Duckett set the school record in 2003. He averaged 1.8 tackles for a loss per game, which ranked second in the FBS despite Brooks missing significant time in November due to injury.

National pundits also noticed Brooks’ efforts as he was tabbed a second team All-American by multiple publications following the season. It marked the first time a Tech linebacker had earned first or second team All-America accolades since College Football Hall of Famer and Ring of Honor member Zach Thomas in 1995.

The Seattle Seahawks agreed with many of the awards committees as well, selecting Brooks with the 27th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. He became only the eighth Red Raider all-time to go off the board in the first round and just the third defensive player to do so, joining the likes of Ted Watts (1981) and another College Football Hall of Famer and Ring of Honor member in Gabe Rivera (1983).

Brooks was one of four Red Raiders to hear his name called during the NFL Draft under Wells as Broderick Washington Jr. was picked in the fifth round by the Baltimore Ravens in 2020, while McPhearson was selected in the third round of the 2021 draft by the Philadelphia Eagles followed by Jack Anderson in the seventh round to the Buffalo Bills.

For Wells, he became the first head coach to deliver multiple NFL Draft picks in each of his first two seasons since Jerry Moore during the 1982-83 drafts. It also marked the first time since the 2004-05 seasons where Tech boasted multiple NFL Draft selections in back-to-back years.

Wells and his staff were also been instrumental in helping Red Raiders land free-agent opportunities in the NFL. Terence Steele was a shining example of that effort after joining the Dallas Cowboys in 2020 where he made 14 starts at right tackle as a rookie.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Beginning with his arrival at Texas Tech, Wells stressed the importance of building a positive, player-driven culture within the football program. He described it as having a "We, Us and Our" mentality, meaning it takes every individual, inside and outside of the program, to contribute for the Red Raiders to be successful on Saturday.

That motto applied to the Red Raiders' work in the community as well as the Texas Tech football program committed countless hours to various non-profit organizations and local school districts over his tenure. During the 2020-21 academic year alone, the Red Raiders combined for more than 1,200 hours of community service, serving organizations such as the local YWCA, the South Plains Food Bank, Ronald McDonald House, Boys and Girls Club of Lubbock and Habitat for Humanity, among others.

During the season, anywhere from 20-40 Red Raiders will gather each Friday morning of a home game to visit a local school district, which often encompasses reading to elementary students and serving as mentors. The program was led by Troy Kema, an Associate A.D. for player development and student-athlete services on the football staff, with assistance from defensive lineman Tony Bradford Jr., who, himself, grew into a staple at all of Texas Tech's community initiatives.

Wells also implemented the "Special Spectator" program throughout his career, which involves inviting a local student who is suffering from an unfortunate medical condition to not only practice but to a select home game. The Special Spectator met the team following each Thursday practice and then was recognized on the video board during the next home football game.

The football program also established a community scholarship prior to the 2021 season in conjunction with the 100 Black Men of West Texas. The scholarship covers all tuition and fees for one full year, providing a life-changing opportunity for a local student to attend the university.

Aside from the football program, the Wells family were also strong contributors to the Lubbock community through his Women's Football Clinic. Proceeds from the annual event were presented to a charity of choice for the Wells family with previous recipients including Voice of Hope, Women's Protective Services and most recently, CASA of the South Plains. In each year, Wells and his wife, Jen, matched the proceeds with a donation of their own. Texas Tech presented CASA of the South Plains with more than $11,000 from the 2021 women's clinic, which the Wells family, in turn, matched in a surprise donation of their own.

Additionally, the Wells family provided a significant gift at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic more than to kick off fundraising efforts for the South Plains COVID-19 Relief Fund that was created by City of Lubbock Mayor Dan Pope. The Wells family has also contributed to other local organizations such as Team Luke Hope for Minds, Texas Boys Ranch and Covenant Children's Hospital.

For his efforts, Wells was recognized as the AFCA Good Works Team honorary coach during the 2021 season. Wells joined 11 student-athletes from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and 11 more from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II, Division II and NAIA ranks to make up the final roster of 23 award recipients from across college football on the Good Works Team.

UTAH STATE
Wells was tabbed the head coach for his alma mater on Dec. 20, 2012, following two seasons as an assistant coach on staff. Utah State experienced its best stretch in history during Wells’ tenure as the Aggies won 44 games and played in five bowl games under his guidance, quite the feat for a program that had only eight postseason trips to its record prior to his promotion.

Wells, the fourth-longest tenured coach in program history, departed Utah State as the only coach to lead the Aggies to at least three bowl games as well as multiple bowl victories. In fact, Wells was a player (1993), a coordinator (2012) or the head coach (2013-14) for four of Utah State’s five bowl wins in its history with the lone exception coming at the 2018 Gildan New Mexico Bowl after he had already accepting the job at Texas Tech.

Wells closed his tenure in Logan as the second-winningest coach in program history as his 44 victories trailed only the total of E. Lowell Romney, who accumulated 128 wins over a 29-year stretch from 1919-48. Additionally, Wells compiled a 30-18 record in Mountain West play, trailing only Romney in all-time conference wins among Utah State head coaches.

The Aggies recorded two of their three 10-win campaigns in school history under Wells as Utah State finished 10-4 in only his second season in 2014 and then 11-2 in 2018, which matched the school record for victories. Utah State was also 9-5 during Wells' debut season in 2013, which marked the most wins for a first-year head coach in program history.

Utah State recorded one of its best seasons in school history in Wells’ final year as the Aggies closed the 2018 campaign ranked 21st in the final Amway Coaches’ poll and 22nd in the Associated Press poll. It marked only the fourth time in school history the Aggies, who climbed as high as No. 13 during the regular season, ended a year among the top-25 schools in the AP poll. The No. 13 ranking was Utah State’s highest at any point in a season since the 1961 campaign.

Wells was named the 2018 Mountain West Coach of the Year for the second time during his time in Logan, making him just the fifth Mountain West coach to receive the honor twice in a career, joining the likes of Sonny Lubick, Rocky Long, Urban Meyer and Gary Patterson. He also received the accolade following his debut season in 2013, which was highlighted by an appearance in the inaugural Mountain West Championship game and a victory over No. 24 Northern Illinois in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.

The bowl victory over Northern Illinois was the first of three wins over top-25 foes during Wells’ tenure, one more than the Aggies had won in their previous 116 seasons combined. The Aggies followed with a top-25 win in each of the next two seasons after going on the road to defeat No. 18 BYU in 2014 and then topping No. 21 Boise State at home in 2015.

Utah State boasted one of the most dynamic offenses in the country in 2018, averaging 47.5 points per game, which only trailed Oklahoma among schools nationally. The Aggies, who also ranked among the national leaders for fewest sacks allowed (4th), total offense (11th), passing efficiency (14th) and passing offense (17th), lighted up scoreboards to the tune of 618 points, snapping the Mountain West and Utah State single-season records in the process.

Overall, the Aggies snapped 34 school records and tied six others during the 2018 season alone, breaking the previous marks for touchdowns (79), points scored (618), points per game (47.5), total offense per game (497.4), yards of total offense (6,466), total passing yards (3,825), completions (303), extra points (75) and yards per kick return (30.3). Utah State also had 29 scoring drives under one minute, nearly double its previous school record.

It wasn’t only the offense that pushed the Aggies as Utah State led or shared the national lead in turnovers gained (32), passes intercepted (22), kickoff return average (30.3) and three-and-outs forced (5.7 per game). Utah State finished plus-14 in the turnover margin, ranking third in the FBS for the category.

Utah State found the end zone in multiple ways thanks to six defensive touchdowns and four others that came via special teams. The Aggies ranked second in the FBS with 10 non-offensive touchdowns, trailing only Temple among schools nationally. Over his six seasons, Utah State combined for 36 defensive and special teams touchdowns, which ranked among the nation’s elite during that span.

Strong defenses were a staple under Wells as the Aggies allowed only 22.2 points per game in 2018, marking the third time during his tenure Utah State surrendered 25 points or less in a season. Utah State opened Wells’ tenure as head coach by giving up only 17.1 points per game in 2013 (seventh in the FBS) and 19.7 points per game in 2014 (12th in the FBS). Opposing offenses averaged less than 30 points per game against Utah State in each of Wells’ six seasons.

The category Utah State possibly made its presence known best was in the turnover department as the Aggies created 152 takeaways under Wells, which finished tied for fifth nationally over his tenure. Utah State led the Mountain West and trailed only Houston, Louisiana Tech, Washington and UCF in combined forced turnovers over those six seasons.

Utah State’s success in all three facets of the game led to six Aggies being selected in the NFL Draft under Wells as defensive backs Maurice Alexander and Nevin Lawson were selected in the fourth round in 2014 followed by linebackers Nick Vigil and Kyler Fackrell in the third round two years later, running back Devante Mays in the seventh round in 2017 and another running back in Darwin Thompson in the sixth round of the 2019 draft.

Wells’ draftees on the defensive side of the ball have already flourished at the next level as all four have played in over 100 NFL games over their respective careers entering the 2021 season. Thompson, meanwhile, claimed a Super Bowl title during his rookie season with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019.

That list doesn’t include quarterback Jordan Love, who excelled under Wells in 2018 after throwing for 3,567 yards and 32 touchdowns with only six interceptions. He snapped five single-season school record that year, breaking the marks for touchdown passes, passing yards, points responsible for (234) as well as games with 300 passing yards (7) and 400 passing yards (2).

Love declared for the NFL Draft following his junior season in 2019, ending his career as the school’s all-time leader with 9,003 yards of total offense. Love, who also ranked second with 8,600 career passing yards and tied for second with 60 touchdown passes, was selected 26th overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 2020 NFL Draft, becoming the first Aggie to hear his name called in the first round since 1970. He was the first Utah State quarterback to be chosen in any round since 1988 and only the second signal caller to be selected in the first round.

One of the top stars of the Wells era went undrafted, however, as Zach Vigil signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent after earning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior in 2014. He was also tabbed a second team All-American by USA Today, becoming one of seven Aggies to garner All-America status during Wells’ tenure.

Wells mentored a pair of first team All-Americans over his final two seasons as defensive back Jalen Davis (2017) and kick returner Savon Scarver (2018) were both recognized by the Walter Camp Foundation. For Scarver, he led the nation after averaging 33.7 yards per kickoff return, becoming only the third consensus All-American all-time at Utah State and just the 16th in Mountain West history.

Davis picked off five of his 11 career interceptions as a senior in 2017 as he also collected first team All-Mountain West accolades. Davis ended his Utah State career as the school leader with 37 pass breakups and 48 passes defended and ranked fourth all-time for interceptions. He was one of 14 Aggies to be named to the All-Mountain West first team under Wells.

Wells was only the second Utah State graduate to be appointed the school’s head football coach, joining Chris Pella, who led the Aggies from 1983-85.

CAREER PATH TO BEING NAMED A HEAD COACH
Prior to accepting the head coaching position, Wells spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Aggies, serving as quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator in 2011 before being promoted to offensive coordinator a year later. Utah State won 18 games in those two seasons, including a school-record 11 victories in 2012.

As offensive coordinator, Wells helped Utah State claim the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) title, its first outright conference championship since 1936 and just its third in school history. That season, Wells directed an Aggie offense that set single-season school records for total points (454), total offense (6,108), completions (285) and total yards per game (469.8), while ranking second in points per game (34.9) and total passing yards (3,445).

Nationally, Utah State’s 2012 offense ranked second in the WAC and 23rd in the FBS for total offense, averaging 469.8 yards per game. The Aggies also ranked 18th nationally in passing efficiency (153.21), 25th in rushing offense (204.8 yards per game), 31st in fewest sacks allowed (1.38 per game), 33rd in scoring offense (34.9 points per game) and 39th in passing offense (265.0 yards per game). Utah State closed the 2012 campaign scoring 38 or more points in each of its final seven games.

Wells was instrumental in the development of quarterback Chuckie Keeton, who earned first team All-WAC honors in 2012 after setting single-season school records for touchdown passes (27), passing yards (3,373), completion percentage (.676), completions (275) and total offense (3,992). Keeton also earned WAC Offensive Player of the Week honors four times that year, which marked a new single-season school record.

Keeton remains Utah State’s all-time leader in career touchdown passes (62) and ranks second for yards of total offense (8,808) and completion percentage (.629) as well as third for passing yards (7,393), completions (672), passing attempts (1,068). Keeton went on to join Wells’ staff at both Utah State and Texas Tech as a graduate assistant before accepting his first full-time coaching position as the running backs coach for the Aggies immediately following the 2020 campaign.

Wells returned to his alma mater in a coaching role after two different stints at New Mexico, the first as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator from 2007-08. He rejoined the Lobos’ staff as wide receivers coach in 2010 following one year as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Louisville.

Wells has been part of 11 bowl teams and two conference championships during his coaching career, which began at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1997-01. Under then head coach Charlie Weatherbie, Wells served as the Midshipmen’s quarterbacks, fullbacks and wide receivers coach where he was one of a few schools to recruit a future Red Raider legend in Wes Welker. Additionally, Wells was also Navy’s junior varsity head coach throughout his tenure.

Following his time at Navy, Wells returned to his home state of Oklahoma to serve as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Tulsa. During his six seasons with the Golden Hurricane (2002-06), Wells worked alongside two of his future assistant coaches in defensive coordinator Keith Patterson and co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Derek Jones.

PERSONAL
Wells, a quarterback for the Aggies from 1994-96, was a member of two conference championship teams as a student-athlete, which came as a redshirt freshman in 1993 and as a senior in 1996 when Utah State was a member of the Big West Conference.

The Aggies earned a share of the Big West title each of those two seasons, the first of which garnered Utah State an invite to the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl II. Utah State topped Ball State, 42-33, in that game for its first bowl victory in school history.

A native of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, Wells earned his bachelor's degree in business marketing from Utah State in 1996, graduating cum laude. He and his wife, Jen, have two daughters, Jadyn and Ella, and one son, Wyatt.