Kelly Wells returns home as Morehead State athletic director
MOREHEAD, Ky. (WYMT) - Morehead State has named Kelly Wells as their new athletic director, the university announced Friday.
“This is kind of a 52-year interview process for me. I say that because I’m 52,” Wells said at the university’s press conference on Monday. “I always knew that I had a heart for this place. I always knew one of my goals was to have an impact in this place.”
Wells is a Morehead native and graduated from Morehead State University in 1995.
“I told one of them in one of our interviews, they said, ‘What is the one thing you would want for our student athlete group that you didn’t get while you were at Morehead?’ I kind of flipped the situation around. It’s just the opposite of that,” Wells said at a press conference on Monday. “I want them to have the exact experience I had here. I want them to feel the same passion I had for this place when they leave here that I feel about this place.”
Wells spent 16 years at UPike, serving as the head men’s basketball coach from 2006 to 2020 and had held the athletic director title there since 2018. Wells compiled a record of 333-123 during his tenure as head coach of the Bears, which led them to a 20-win season 12 times and won the 2011 NAIA National Championship.
“Step one is to really ignite our fan base and our support here,” Wells added. “I’m going to be in our restaurants in our community. I’m going to be in our businesses in our community. We’ve left a footprint of success throughout this entire region working in Pikeville, and I’ll carry that over here as well.”
Wells’ 333 victories are the most in UPike program history.
“Coming home to MSU is a dream come true and an incredible honor,” said Wells in a release. “I look forward to serving our university and being a part of Dr. Jay Morgan’s team. I am so thankful for my experiences at MSU and look forward to sharing my passion and commitment for the Blue and Gold.”
Prior to coming to UPike, Wells was the boys’ basketball head coach at Mason County High School from 1997 to 2004, leading the Royals to a state championship in 2003.
Wells will begin his new role on July 1st.
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