Kelly Wells, a champion as a high school and college coach, is hanging up his whistle.
Kelly Wells, who has won a college national championship and a Kentucky high school state title, will step down as head men’s basketball coach at the University of Pikeville after this season to devote his full attention to serving as the school’s director of athletics.
“This was an extremely difficult decision to make, but one that I’m at peace with,” Wells said in a school news release. “It’s going to be incredibly tough for me to walk away from the job I’ve loved for half my life now, but it’s time to begin this next chapter for both myself and my family. I wouldn’t have been able to even get to this point without the love and support of my wife, my children, my parents, and all my friends and colleagues I’ve made in this profession.”
Wells, whose current Pikeville team is 16-5 heading into a game Thursday night at Thomas More, is in his second year as the school’s director of athletics. During his tenure, Wells is credited with upgrading the school’s athletics facilities on a number of fronts.
“We are so thankful for Kelly’s commitment to our students and his extraordinary leadership as we continue making an impact,” Pikeville provost Lori Werth said. “Kelly displays a shared vision for student success and we are honored he will serve in the director of athletics role.”
Wells is the winningest coach in university history, having won 328 games across 14 seasons. He has led Pikeville to eight of its 13 NAIA Tournament appearances, including the last seven in a row.
In 2011, Wells was named NAIA Coach of the Year after guiding the unseeded Bears on a Cinderella run to the national championship.
Before his time at Pikeville, the Morehead native’s accomplishments included coaching Mason County High school to the Sweet Sixteen title in 2003.
Across all of his years coaching high school and college basketball, Wells has amassed nearly 550 wins
Pikeville will celebrate Wells’ coaching career during the Bears’ game against the University of the Cumberlands on Feb. 22 at Appalachian Wireless Arena.