First-year head coach Matt Wells.
“A little surreal.”
That’s how first-year head coach Matt Wells describes being in charge of the Utah State Aggies’ football program. As a player, he was quarterback at the Logan, Utah school from 1993-96, leading them to the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl. A Columbia, SC native, he traveled across the country for his education, graduating Cum Laude with a Business Marketing degree in 1996.
As an Aggie, he is a devoted alum.
“It’s such an honor,” he said. “It’s humbling. No one has more passion for this program and wants to make it better than I do.”
Gary Andersen, now the new Wisconsin Badgers’ head coach, didn’t do Wells any favors. He left the program after a record-setting season, leading the team to 11 wins, including a 41-15 blowout of Toledo in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Expectations from Aggies’ fans have never been higher.
“You don’t get to choose when a coaching opportunity happens,” Wells said. “Sure, there are high expectations. But, Gary showed a great blueprint. Now, it’s our job to keep up that momentum.”
The former Utah State head man thinks Wells is up to the challenge.
“Matt will be a great leader for Utah State football moving forward,” Andersen said. “Being on our staff for the past two years, he is prepared and will continue to implement the same philosophies with his own style.”
Recruiting is Different the Utah State Way
Utah State head coach Matt Wells acknowledges that things are a little different when it comes to recruiting in Logan.
“We are in a unique situation,” Wells said. “There are three recruiting aspects. First, we do recruit in-state players. That is a top priority. We also recruit the Polynesian area.”
The home state presence of the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS) is also a significant factor.
“We understand the LDS return player program,” Wells said. “A lot of guys will be ‘sign and send.’ They go on their church mission direct out of high school, then return and play. I think that this year we have maybe four coming back in from their mission, but as many as seven ‘sign and send’ players.
“This does represent an advantage in some cases. Players come back more mature. But, some individuals take a little longer than others to jump right back in and be ready to play.”
