UPIKE Athletics

Kelly Wells enters his 14th season as the head coach of the UPIKE men’s basketball team in 2019-20.
 
Wells has put together a 313-111 record at UPIKE, including winning the 2011 NAIA National Championship. The Morehead, Ky., native was named the NAIA Coach of the Year following that championship season.

UPIKE has put together 12 20-win seasons in the last 13 under Wells’ guidance. Included in that run are the program’s first two 30-win campaigns, coming in 2010-11 and 2013-14. Last season, the Bears finished 25-9 overall and reached their eighth NAIA National Tournament with Wells.

The Bears' 31 wins registered during the 2013-14 campaign are the most in program history, while the 17 Mid-South Conference wins that season are a league record as well.

At UPIKE, Wells has coached 24 NAIA All-Americans, including two NAIA Players of the Year in Bruce Reed in 2014 and Kenny Manigault in 2015. That makes 24 of the program’s 29 total All-Americans having played under Wells. There have also been 34 All Mid-South Conference selections to play for Wells, including four Conference Players of the Year and one Freshman of the Year.
 

 
This is Wells’ 24th season overall as a head coach (532-216), spending three seasons at Marion County High School from 1995-97, eight seasons at Mason County High School from 1997-2004, one season at Hawai’i Pacific in 2005-06, followed by the last 13 at Pikeville. In the collegiate ranks, Wells holds a 321-130 record through 14 seasons.

At Mason County, Wells captured the 2003 Kentucky State Championship and was runner-up in 2004. He was named coach of the year after both seasons, coaching Chris Lofton who would go on to be an All-American at the University of Tennessee.

As a player, Wells was a three-year men’s basketball letterman at Morehead State from 1992-94. Wells prepped at Rowan County High School, leading the team to three trips to the Kentucky Sweet 16 while earning First-Team All-State honors twice in 1989 and 1990.

Wells resides in Pikeville with his wife Shawne and their children, Kaylee and Mason.

Wells’ Season-By-Season Collegiate Record

Education

Master of Arts in Education, Morehead State University

Bachelor of Business Administration, Morehead State University

Coaching Career

2006–Present, University of Pikeville, Head Coach (259-97)

2005–2006, Hawaii Pacific University, Head Coach (8-19)

2004–2005, Hawaii Pacific University, Assistant Coach

1997–2004, Mason County High School, Head Coach (171-56)

1995–1997, Marion County High School, Head Coach (32-28)

Playing Career

1992–1994, Morehead State University

1990–1991, University of Tulsa

Mason County High School Coaching Highlights
    • 2003 Kentucky State Champions
    • 2004 Kentucky State Runner-Up
    • Two-time Kentucky Coach of the Year (2003, 2004)
    • Three-time 10th Region Coach of the Year
    • 10th Region Hall of Fame member (2004)
    • Kentucky-Indiana All-Star Coach (2004)
    • Coached Tennessee All-American Chris Lofton
    • Overall Record: 171-56 (.753)

Marion County High School Coaching Highlights
    • 1997 FCA State Coach of the Year
    • 1997 Fifth Region Coach of the Year
    • Overall Record: 32-28 (.533)