Eric Mathies and Walt Wells will remain with the Western Kentucky University football coaching staff, Head Coach Willie Taggart announced today. Wells has served on the WKU staff the last seven seasons, while Mathies has been on the Hilltoppers' staff the last five seasons. Their specific roles on the 2010 staff will be determined at a later date.
"I am very pleased that Eric Mathies and Walt Wells will be a part of our coaching staff," Taggart said. "Both of them are respected by their peers and the student-athletes they coach. Each has a proven record of helping those under their guidance develop into better players and mature into young men, and each of them are also outstanding recruiters. They will have a positive impact on our program in many areas."
Mathies has served as WKU's defensive line coach each of the last five seasons. Under his tutelage in 2009, sophomore Jared Clendenin had 40 total tackles while tying for third on the team in tackles for loss (3.5). In 2008 under Mathies' direction, Dan Cline posted 33 total tackles while ranking second on the team with eight tackles for loss, while Robert Dark had 32 total tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss.
"I am excited to remain here and for the opportunity provided to me by Coach Taggart," Mathies said. "I have enjoyed my five years at WKU and am very pleased to be able to continue to be a part of this tremendous university and football program."
Wells served as WKU's offensive coordinator/offensive line coach in 2009 after working as the Hilltoppers' offensive line coach from 2003-08. He also served as running game coordinator during the 2007 and 2008 seasons. Four Hilltopper offensive linemen have earned All-America honors under Wells' direction, and the 2009 Hilltoppers' ranked 4th in the Sun Belt Conference, 40th in the nation, in rushing yards per game (172.8 ypg.).
"I am very happy to remain at WKU and continue to be a part of this great university and community," Wells said. "I look forward to working for Coach Taggart and am excited about meeting the challenges that are ahead."
Mathies coached at Tennessee State for two seasons and Midwestern (Texas) State for four years prior to joining the WKU staff. Mathies was a four-year letter winner in football, beginning his career at Kansas before transferring to Murray State. A defensive lineman, he helped the Racers to a pair of Ohio Valley Conference championships as MSU qualified for the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in both 1995 and '96, advancing to the second round in their second appearance. The Racers went 29-7 in his three years with a 21-2 league record during that span. Mathies, who earned his bachelor's degree from Murray State in 1998, also served an internship with the Dallas Cowboys.
Wells came to WKU after working with the line and tight ends at Eastern Kentucky the previous six years, where he was a part of three teams that won eight games and earned an Ohio Valley Conference championship, and coached seven all-league players and an All-American. He was the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Cumberland (Tenn.) from 1994-96, leading an offense that topped the NAIA in rushing two years while helping the Bulldogs to a top-15 ranking and eight wins in their best season. Five CU players were selected to the all-conference team, with one collecting All-America honors. Wells earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Belmont in 1993 after transferring from Austin Peay, where he was a two-year starter on the football team. He added a master's degree in human relations management in 1995 at Cumberland.
