Eastern Kentucky football coach Walt Wells played at McGavock and Austin Peay and began his coaching career at Smyrna High School.
With 12 players on his roster from Tennessee it's easy to see that Eastern Kentucky football coach Walt Wells has strong ties to the Volunteer State.
Wells, a Nashville native who played football at McGavock and Austin Peay, started his coaching career at Smyrna High, and also spent time on the staffs at Tennessee and Cumberland University.
He even played on a semi-pro football team called the Tennessee Generals.
He made Tennessee and specifically, the Nashville area, an emphasis in his recruiting because of his connections. The Colonels have been to the FCA national playoffs twice since 2022 and posted a 30-26 overall record over that stretch.
"I've been coaching 33 years now and I always made it a point to recruit Nashville," Wells said. "When I was at Eastern Kentucky (2015, 1997-2002) as an assistant, Western Kentucky (2003-12), South Florida (2013), I always came back here and recruited players. And I always will because I know there are good players not only in Nashville but across the state of Tennessee."
Wells was in Nashville on July 16 for the United Athletic Conference football media day at Bridgestone Arena. Former Maplewood defensive lineman Gabe Fletcher and Smyrna defensive lineman Jeremiah Bailey, who are now at EKU, joined Wells at media day.
Fletcher has been on the roster all six years Wells has been at EKU. Fletcher, who had 100 tackles and 18 sacks in his senior season at Maplewood. He's played every game over the last two seasons and will be one of the Colonels top defensive players this season.
"To get a Metro Nashville young man and have him all six years that I've been a head coach has been a blessing," Wells said. "To watch him mature and grow, he's got his degree, he's getting another degree, is something that makes me proud. And to have two kids from the Midstate with Jeremiah here, and that's just two of many, is also a blessing."
Fletcher, 6-foot-3, 285 pounds, is determined to help other local high school players follow in his footsteps. If not to play football on the next level, at least to give college a try.
Bailey, a senior, had his best performance in the FCS playoff game against against Villanova last season when he recorded eight tackles and two sacks. Bailey said he has a special bond with Wells since Wells began his career at Smyrna. Also, Bailey's father, Troi, and Wells played football together at McGavock.
"I came from an inner-city school and there were not too many people who came back to the neighborhood or the school to show me that they had made it to college to play football and encourage me to do it too," Fletcher said. "I've got to be that guy. Most of my class graduated and went straight to work. Not many went to college. I want to show them that even if you don't play football you can go to college and make something out of yourself."
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: EKU football coach Walt Wells relies on his Nashville roots in recruiting
Category: General Sports
