Kelly Wells has been named director of athletics at Morehead State University/

Former Mason County Royals basketball Kelly Wells has been hired as the director of athletics at Morehead State University, his alma mater.

Wells, a native of Morehead, was a three-year letter winner on the MSU basketball team. 

He began his coaching career at Marion County.

Well guided Mason County to the 2003 state championship and a state runner-up finish in 2004.

After leaving Mason County in 2004, Wells coached at Hawaii-Pacific Unversity.

He returned to Kentucky as the head coach at Pikeville College which became the University of Pikeville. His 2011 UPIKE team won the NAIA National Championship.

Wells, who has served as director of athletics at UPIKE since 2018, will begin his new job on July 1.

He will be formally introduced at a press conference Monday at 2 p.m. at the MSU Academic-Athletic Center. 

Kelly Wells will be inducted into the Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame in May

Former Mason County Royals basketball coach Kelly Wells will be inducted into the Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame in May.

Wells was an all-state player at Rowan County and is the Vikings' all-time leading scorer. In his first coaching job, he guided Marion County to the 1997 5th Region championship. Wells coached Mason County to three straight 10th Region titles and the 2003 state championship. The Royals were the state-runners-up in 2004, Wells' last season at Mason County. He guided Pikeville College to the 2011 NAIA national championship.

Two other members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2022 are from the 10th Region -- Brooksville basketball and baseball star Albert Cummins and Harrison County baseball coach Mac Whitaker.

Mason County to honor former Coach Kelly Wells at Saturday night's game vs. Pikeville

The Mason County High School Athletic Department will honor former boys' basketball coach Kelly Wells prior to the Royals' game vs. Pikeville Saturday night in the Mike Murphy Classic.

Wells guided the Royals to four district championships, three straight 10th Region titles, the 2003 state championship and a state runner-up finish in 2004.

His seven-season record was 172-56. Wells was the head coach of the Kentucky All-Stars in their annual series vs. the Indiana All-Stars.

He left Mason County in 2004 to become an assistant coach at Hawaii Pacific University. After serving as the head coach at Hawaii Pacific for the 2005-06 season, Wells returned to Kentucky as the head coach at Pikeville College (now the University of Pikeville). He guided the Bears to the 2011 NAIA National Championship. After 14 seasons and 313 wins, Wells stepped down as the head coach to become the Athletic Director at UPIKE.

Wells' former Mason County players and members of his coaching staff are urged to attend Saturday night's ceremony. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Monday news and notes

Here are some news and notes to start your week:

• Mason County cross country runners Paige Decker and Alyssa Bisotti were named to the Kentucky Track and Cross Country Coaches Association All State Team.

• Former Mason County Royals basketball coach Kelly Wells picked up his 300th career win as a collegiate head coach Sunday when the University of Pikeville Bears defeated Ohio University-Chillicothe 96-35.

• St. Patrick basketball will hold its annual Green and White Night on Friday, November 16th beginning at 6 p.m. The event includes the announcement of the recipients of the Jeff Stahl Memorial Scholarship and the Johnny Stahl Memorial Scholarship, fan participation games, recognition of all St. Patrick basketball players, the St, Patrick pep band and the varsity girls' and boys' green-white scrimmages. The concession stand will open at 5:30 p.m.

• Mason County basketball has two special recognition nights scheduled during the upcoming season. On December 21st when the Royals host the Augusta Panthers, Mason County's 1994 10th Region champion baseball team will be recognized, and on February 1st when the Royals host the Clark County Cardinals, the Mason County's 1994 10th Region basketball team will be recognized.

Kelly Wells inducted into the MSU Alumni Hall of Fame

Former Mason County Royals basketball coach Kelly Wells, the current men's basketball coach and Athletic Director at the University of Pikeville, was inducted into the Morehead State University Alumni Hall of Fame during MSU's Homecoming Weekend.

Well was the head coach at Mason County six seasons. He guided the Royals to the 2003 state championship and a state runner-up finish in 2004.

News and notes

Here are few news and notes and a three of links about former local basketball players and a coach:

Chris Lofton had four points and four rebounds in Le Man's 87-77 victory over Monaco today to even the best-of-five French League Jeep Elite Playoff Finals at a game apiece. Game 3 is Monday in Le Mans.

After taking a year off,  former Mason County and Ohio University standout Treg Setty will return to professional basketball next season. Mansfield and Associates announced Setty has signed with Residence Walferdange in Luxembourg. He had previously played in Belgium.

Former St. Patrick and University of Toledo star Jay Gast retired today from the Toledo Police Department, but will start a new job next week. Check out the Toledo Bee report.

Former Mason County Royals coach and current UPike coach Kelly Wells was a guest on a recent episode of Conversations with Champions on KET. Watch it online.

An episode of Conversations with Champions last year featured former Maysville High School and University of Kentucky player Gerry Calvert and two of his UK teammates John Brewer and Earl Adkins. Here is a link to the show.

Kelly Wells on SportsTalk

University of Pikeville men's basketball coach Kelly Wells was my guest on SportsTalk this morning.

Here is a link to the podcast.