Eastern Kentucky football team names acting head coach after Walt Wells is hospitalized
Garry McPeek has filled a variety of roles as a longtime coach and athletics administrator in Central Kentucky.
On Saturday, he’ll test himself as head coach of a Division I football team for the first time.
McPeek was called into action Monday after Eastern Kentucky University head coach Walt Wells was hospitalized following a cardiac episode Sunday morning.
McPeek, who has served as assistant director of football operations, director of football operations and finally chief of staff since joining the EKU program last year, has been named acting head coach.
“These are not the circumstances in which we hoped to be operating within,” EKU Athletics Director Matt Roan said in a news release. “That said, the appointment of Coach McPeek as acting head coach allows the team to move forward in the most efficient, least disruptive manner possible. Coach McPeek is wholly dedicated to Coach Wells’ team-first philosophy and will do an outstanding job of leading and supporting a terrific staff of coordinators, assistant coaches, and support personnel. Our staff and I look forward to assisting him throughout this process for the benefit of the young men who make up our team.”
Eastern Kentucky is scheduled to kick off its 2022 season at Eastern Michigan on Friday at 7 p.m.
“I’m honored that our administration has the confidence in me to step in during this critical time,” McPeek said. “Our main focus is Coach Wells and his health, and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. We’ve got great players and great coaches who have put a lot of work into this program. I’ll just try to guide the ship and keep it between the navigational buoys.”
Wells is hospitalized in stable condition at UK Hospital in Lexington.
McPeek is a 30-year coaching veteran who had previously worked at Valdosta High School in Georgia in 2020. He also launched the athletic program at Lexington’s Frederick Douglass High School and twice coached for the Kentucky Horsemen Arena Football League team.
McPeek’s most recent stint as a head coach came from 2001-03 when he led Lawrence County to a 28-5 record.