One-on-One with Pikeville College Head Coach Kelly Wells

Kelly Wells is the head coach at Pikeville College. He enjoyed a successful playing career in high school at Rowan County, where he helped get the Vikings to three consecutive Sweet Sixteen appearances. He played a season at Tulsa before finishing his college career with three seasons at Morehead State. As a coach, he led Mason County to a state championship in 2003 and a state runner-up finish in 2004. He then coached at Hawaii-Pacific before coming to Pikeville.

I consider Coach Wells a good friend and it was great to talk a little basketball with him earlier today:

Coach Wells, thank you for taking the time to speak to me today. Tell me a little about your background as a player and coach.

Grew up playing basketball in the youth leagues and summer camps of Morehead and Morehead State University. My father coached the women at MSU for 10 years and I kind of was the typical coach’s son. Always at practice and around the team.

As a player, you helped take Rowan County to the Sweet Sixteen three consecutive times. As a coach, you led Mason County to a state championship in 2003. Talk a little about the feeling of accomplishment that follows a trip to the Sweet Sixteen.

The trips to the Sweet 16 at RC were a new experience not only for me, but our community as a whole. You really don’t appreciate those things until you get away from it somewhat. It was great to be a part of those championship teams! Can you describe your feelings as the final horn sounded to end that 2003 championship game? Not sure how to explain the sense of accomplishment and pride I felt for our team and community. Maysville and Mason County is a special place with special people. To be a part of our first championship was emotional and exciting. The players that we had were the reason for the success and to see them doing great is what it is all about.

You completed your college career at Morehead State, which is located in your hometown. How did it feel to “come back home” so-to-speak during your college career?

Morehead and Morehead State University are who I am. To be able to play and graduate from there meant the world to me. “Back Where I Come From” fits me pretty well to a T!! My entire family has graduated from MSU including my wife and her family.

I know you have played and coached against several great opponents during your career. What name comes to mind as the best basketball player you or one of your teams ever competed against?

As a player I can remember playing against Byron Houston from Ok State and Shawn Bradley from BYU. As a coach I can remember playing against Eric Gordon from Indy Central and Lonnell DeWalt from Warren Central. I had the best on my team, Chris Lofton!!

You are now at Pikeville College and you have plenty of positive things taking place in your program. One recent announcement is that the Bears will be playing the majority of their home games at the East Kentucky Expo Center. Tell me a little about the decision to move most of the games from campus to the Expo Center.

The difference between a typical talent show and “American Idol” is all in the presentation. We have always put on a great talent show here at PC, but now we have an opportunity to be something special. It also gives us a great opportunity to connect to our community with events such as Alumni, Local Business, Etc. We now have the nicest facility in all of NAIA and you would be hard pressed to find too many DI facilities nicer. We want the best for our student-athletes here and this is another way to show that.

You have also announced some new ideas regarding ticket sales for the 2009-10 season. How are ticket sales looking since the announcement?

The general excitement has been overwhelming in most ways. That is no exception with season tickets. We have only had tickets on sale since Saturday and we are busy completing orders. But, there is always room for more—Buy Your Season Tickets!!!!

It definitely sounds like you have generated some excitement about Pikeville Bears basketball. Let’s talk a little about your team this coming season. You return several key players, including a talented scorer in Josh Samarco. You also have a talented recruiting class on campus. Talk a little about the players you have and what you’re expecting this season.

The timing couldn’t be better for this team and roster of players. We are just as excited about our guys as we are all the changes around the program. We return four of our top 6 players off back to back 20 win seasons. One of those is Josh Samarco who was a 2nd team all-American and another is All-MSC Justin Hicks. Two other returning players are starting post Anthony Smith and 6th man Kane Belcher.

Other returners are Chris Puckett, Zach Hurt, and Adam Simmons.

The recruiting class is led by NCAA DI transfers PG Jonathan Clark, F Maurice Thomas, and PF Andre Thornton. All three have the potential to be all-league players in their perspective positions. Other transfers are G Chris Donald and G Ryan Whitaker that we expect both to play significant minutes on the wing for us.

Also, in that class are freshman G/F Trevor Setty, G Kyan Hines, and PG Tobin Erhardt. Derrick Lee is also a transfer from Southern Indiana.

One of our issues last season was our depth and we have addressed that need in a major way!!

Name a couple of players that you expect to have big seasons from on the court this season.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS: Justin Hicks, Josh Samarco, Jonathan Clark, Maurice Thomas, Chris Donald, Anthony Smith, and Andre Thornton. This should be our strongest team at PC since I have been here!!

One thing we can bank on is that the Mid-South Conference will be extremely tough year-in and year-out. This season will be no exception. All the MSC teams are competitive, but which team or teams do you expect to be near the top in 2009-10?

The humbling part of having a very good team is that ALL the other teams in our league will as well. Not only will they all have very good teams, but they will be coached by great coaches who work very hard and are first class. Having a good team means very little in our league---It takes much more than just that.

I have watched several Mid-South games during the past few years and I have to say that these games are as intense and exciting as any basketball a fan could find in the state of Kentucky. How would you describe the atmosphere during a league battle against the likes of a Georgetown or a Cumberlands?

The MSC basketball games are as intense as any you will find at any level. It may be the best kept secret in basketball to many. Those who truly know basketball know how good it is and appreciate it. We have great rivalries and also great friendships in our league. If you are a MSC recruit you are a very good player!!!

Which MSC team has the most challenging road environment for a visiting team and why?

All our teams have unique situations for sure. Some gyms are nicer than others and some have more support than others, but any night you are not on top of your game it will be a challenging environment. The NAIA focuses on the Champions of Character initiative and sportsmanship is a way of life in our league.

Name a conference player or two from other teams that you expect to have great seasons in 2009-10.

LWC – McPhearson, Gtown – Moses, St. Catharines – Johnson, WVTech – Slack, Campbellsville – Comanares, Cumberlands - Bryon

What can an opponent expect when they tip-off against a Kelly Wells’ coached basketball team?

Very good offensive team in all categories and one that must continue to improve defensively to get where we want. Our identity will be built around our togetherness. We will be prepared and skilled.

Coach, it’s been great talking with you. I look forward to following the Bears this season and I wish you nothing but the best.