Since the Utah State Aggies finished the regular season 10-2 and played for a division title, they have enjoyed a historic amount of accolades.
And USU coach Matt Wells is drawing a lot of attention.
Talk has ramped up in recent days on where Wells could be headed, and his name has been linked to a pair of high-profile job openings at Power 5 programs.
Wells is the reported “leader’ for the coaching opening at Texas Tech, according to a story Wednesday by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
Texas Tech’s former coach, Kliff Kingsbury, was fired after the team’s third consecutive losing season. Athletic director Kirby Hocutt said on a radio show that the coaching search was “fluid."
“I want a head coach who going to come in and set the vision, surrounding themselves with an extremely talented staff and give their 100 percent focus and attention to the young men in the locker room and the recruiting class,” Hocutt said.
That type of coach could be Wells, whose team won 10 straight games and finished with a 7-1 conference record. Utah State narrowly lost to Boise State for a chance to play for the Mountain West Conference championship.
Wells was also named the MW coach of the year on Wednesday. He last won the award in 2013.
Texas Tech is not the only university with a coaching need that may be delighted if Wells joined it. Multiple reports, including Yahoo, SB Nation and Sports Illustrated have all linked Wells to the coaching vacancy at Colorado, where Mike MacIntyre was fired after losing at home to Utah two weeks ago.
Wells has one year left on his contract with Utah State.
Wells is in his sixth year as the Aggies head coach. He has a 44-34 record overall, with a 30-18 conference record and a 2-2 record in bowl games. The 44 wins are second-most in school history.
Under Wells, the Aggies have qualified for a bowl game five of the last six seasons, including this year. Utah State also competed in two bowl games when Wells was USU’s offensive coordinator under Gary Andersen in 2011 and 2012.
The Aggies have scored at least 50 points 14 times and 60-plus points six times — both school records — under Wells this season. USU’s ball-hawking defense has also received accolades this season.
Under Wells, the Aggies have been tough at home, going 27-9 at Maverik Stadium in his six years at the helm.
The NFL has seen a slew of Wells' players over the years. Twenty-four players who played under Wells have logged time in the league.
Wells played quarterback for Utah State from 1993-1996.
