Luke Wells, an experienced offensive coach with a history of working at three Big 12 programs, has been appointed as Kansas State’s tight ends coach, as announced by head coach Chris Klieman on Monday. His hiring is contingent upon a successful background check.
“Luke brings a wealth of coaching experience and recruiting enthusiasm to our tight end group, which has played a significant role in our recent offensive success,” Klieman said. “I’ve known Luke for quite some time, even discussing past coaching openings with him. We’re excited to have him and his family join our program.”
Wells, a 2002 Oklahoma graduate who played and coached for the Sooners, most recently coached at Tulsa in 2022. He has also coached tight ends and receivers at Iowa State and Texas Tech during his career.
“I’m thankful to Coach Klieman for the opportunity to join this staff and be a part of K-State’s winning culture,” Wells said. “I’m eager to begin working with our talented tight end group.”
At Texas Tech, Wells essentially built the tight end position from the ground up, helping three players—Donta Thompson, Dalton Rigdon, and KeSean Carter—earn All-Big 12 honors in 2019 and 2020.
Before Texas Tech, Wells worked as co-offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Utah State from 2013 to 2016. He coached tight ends for the first three years before switching to quarterbacks in 2016, then returned to coaching tight ends and inside receivers in his final two years. It was at Utah State where he worked with his brother, Matt, K-State’s current offensive coordinator.
Wells mentored standout tight end Wyatt Houston, who accumulated 86 receptions, 933 yards, and 9 touchdowns, ranking second in school history for tight ends. Houston earned All-Mountain West Honorable Mention in 2016.
Prior to Houston, tight end D.J. Tialavea flourished under Wells before signing a rookie free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2014. Tialavea later joined the Atlanta Falcons and participated in Super Bowl LI. Another Wells pupil, Jefferson Court, was selected 37th in the CFL Draft by the Ottawa Redblacks in 2015.
Under Wells’ guidance, Utah State’s offense thrived, averaging 47.5 points per game in 2018—second only to Oklahoma. The Aggies scored 618 points that season, breaking both Mountain West and Utah State records. They surpassed 40 points in 13 games and 50 points 10 times, setting a school record with seven 50-point games in 2018 alone.
In Wells’ first season, Utah State set records for completions, total plays, touchdown passes, and first downs. The Aggies scored 445 points and attempted 481 passes, ranking second in school history. The tight ends set a single-season record for touchdown receptions with nine.
Before Utah State, Wells coached tight ends and wide receivers at Iowa State from 2009 to 2012, helping the Cyclones reach three bowl games in four years.
Wells started his coaching career at Louisiana-Monroe, where he served in various roles from 2003 to 2008. He also helped ULM sign its highest-rated recruiting class at the time.
Wells’ first full-time coaching position was as the wide receivers coach at Denton High School in Texas in 2002. He began his collegiate coaching career as a student assistant at Oklahoma from 1999 to 2001, contributing to the Sooners’ 2000 Big 12 Championship and BCS National Championship.
Wells holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Oklahoma. He and his wife, Coby, have a son, Walker, and a daughter, Kinsley.
