Kansas State officially named Matt Wells as the program’s next offensive coordinator on Monday morning after Conor Riley left to become the offensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys last week.
“We are fortunate to have someone experienced on staff in Matt, who I have known for 12-plus years and will seamlessly transition into the offensive coordinator role,” said K-State head coach Chris Klieman. “He worked closely with Conor [Riley] last season and had a big part in our offensive production. His resume speaks for itself, and his relationship with and development of Avery Johnson and our other quarterbacks will help our offense continue to grow.”
While Klieman has known Wells for well over a decade, he’s been in Manhattan for just one season. So, what do you need to know about K-State’s new offensive play-caller?
Kansas State (2024)
Co-Offensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Coach
Wells spent the 2024 season as the Wildcats co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and also held the title as assistant head coach. In his first season as quarterbacks coach, Wells helped develop sophomore Avery Johnson during his first year as a starter, setting a new school record in passing touchdowns (25), while also ranking fifth in school history in passing yards (2,712) and completions (217).
A true dual-threat talent, Johnson was just one of five players in college football with 2,700 passing yards and 600 rushing yards.
Under the direction of Wells, Johnson guided an offense that finished in the top 15 nationally in four offensive categories, including rushing yards per carry (second; 6.08) and rushing yards per game (11th; 215.5).
Oklahoma (2022-23)
Advisor to Head Coach/Offensive Analyst
Prior to his time at Kansas State, Wells spent two seasons at Oklahoma, serving as an offensive analyst under Brent Venables and offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, now the head coach at Mississippi State. In Wells’ final season on staff at OU, the Sooners ranked 4th nationally in scoring offense (41.7 ppg) and third in total offense (507.0 ypg).
Texas Tech (2019-21)
Head Coach
Wells spent three seasons as the head coach at Texas Tech, putting together a 13-17 overall record with the Red Raiders. He was fired after the first eight games of the 2021 season despite being 5-3.
Utah State (2013-2018)
Wells’ first head coaching gig was with the Utah State Aggies, and he immediately made waves with a 9-5 (7-1 MWC) record in Year 1. In that 2012 season, Wells’ offense set single-season school records for total points (454), total offense (6,108), completions (285), and total yards per game (469.8) while ranking second in school history in points per game (34.9) and total passing yards (3,445). Overall, Wells boasted a 44-34 (30-18 MWC) with the Aggies and led them to bowl games in five of his six seasons.
In his final year with the program, Wells guided Utah State to a 10-2 (7-1 MWC) finish in the regular season and ended the year as the No. 22 team in the final AP Poll—just the program’s third time to ever finish the season ranked.
One of Wells’ greatest accomplishments with the Aggies was his development of Utah State quarterback Jordan Love. Over the course of his career, Love accounted for 9,003 yards of total offense–including a 2018 campaign in which he threw for 3,567 yards and 32 touchdowns. Love declared for the NFL Draft after the 2019 season and was a first-rounder to the Green Bay Packers (Pick No. 26) in the 2020 NFL Draft, Utah State’s first first-round pick since 1970.
Before 2013…
Prior to becoming Utah State’s head coach, Wells served as the Aggies’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2012 and the quarterbacks coach in 2011.
He had several stops before that, as listed below:
- New Mexico (2010): Wide Receivers Coach
- Louisville (2009): Quarterbacks Coach, Passing Game Coordinator
- New Mexico (2007-08): Wide Receivers Coach
- Tulsa (2002-06): Tight Ends Coach
- Navy (1997-2001): Multiple Offensive Roles
Wells, 51, was born in Columbia, South Carolina, but is a native of Sallisaw, Oklahoma. He played quarterback at Utah State for four seasons, spanning from 1993 to 1996.
