It was the news that Walt Wells had been waiting some 20 odd years to hear. The chance to coach at a power five program with limitless resources. The promotion to offensive line coach at Tennessee drew calls, texts and plenty of excitement from high school coaches around the state of Tennessee.
"I love it," state championship winning and Nolensville head coach Will Hester said. "He's a relationship builder. He's the No. 1 guy on Tennessee's staff in middle Tennessee in my opinion. It's not Shoop or any of those guys. He's a relationship guy and I think he's going to do a great job. It's a feather in the cap of the Tennessee high school coaches to have Walt Wells on staff."
Murfreesboro Siegel head coach Michael Copely is still brand new on the job after coming from Louisville Ballard. As a former Centennial assistant and veteran of the mid-state, he has not only seen Wells' tireless work ethic, but he's also been touched by the Wells player factory.
"He's invaluable," Copley said. "Especially when you start talking mid-state and in Kentucky. My offensive line coach that I had in Kentucky, Walt coached him. He's never met a stranger. He bonds with kids and I've seen him come in our buildings and kids love him. I think it's a no-brainer. Everyone of us at the high school level have said if he ever gets that chance, he will blow it out of the water. A lot of that is tied to recruiting, but he can also coach ball. What a freaking steal for Tennessee."
Wells has some serious in-roads and connections with many of the best players in the state. His brother Bobby coaches defensive lineman D'Andre Litaker at Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro. His good friend, Brothers, coaches defensive lineman Brant Lawless at Nashville Christian. And one of his former players, Travis Turner, coaches Vol tight end target James Mitchell in Big Stone Gap, Virginia.
