Wells named AD at UPIKE

Morehead State University alumnus Kelly Wells has been named University of Pikeville athletic director. Wells will assume his position July 1 and will succeed Robert Staggs, who is taking on a role in external relations.

Wells is entering his 13th year at UPIKE, becoming the all-time wins leader in men’s basketball at 287-102. He won the NAIA National Championship in 2011, has captured four MSC titles and coached 23 All-Americans.

“I am honored to serve the University of Pikeville family and I want to thank President (Burton) Webb and Provost (Lori) Werth for entrusting me as the steward of the athletic department and to continue as head men’s basketball coach,” said Wells.

“The passion and pride of Bear Nation continues to rise. I will work with our great coaches and staff to have an impact on the lives of our student-athletes and build upon our past successes to achieve new heights. My family and I look forward to continuing to serve as ambassadors for this great institution and community,” said Wells.

Prior to coming to UPike, he held positions from 2004 to 2006 at Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu as assistant men’s basketball coach, assistant director of athletics and men’s basketball coach. At Mason County High School, Wells won the 2003 Kentucky State Championship and was runner-up in 2004. Wells attended Rowan County Senior High School and led the team to three trips to the Kentucky High School Basketball Tournament. Wells played three years (1992 to 1994) at MSU, where he scored more than 450 points and was named 1993-94 Academic All-OVC Conference. He earned both a Bachelor of Business Administration degree  and a Master of Arts in Education degree from MSU.

Wells is the son of Athletic Hall of Famer Mickey Wells, who was the head coach for women’s basketball at Morehead State from 1975-84. The elder Wells won the OVC Coach of the Year in 1979 and 1982.