By Jeff Caves
Before the 2015 season began, Utah State’s interim athletic director and president gave Matt Wells a 4 year contract extension. It was a smart move to protect a guy who had just had 9 and 10 win seasons. I have always liked Wells as does Bryan Harsin. His players seem to care for him as well.
His situation changed though right after that contract extension.
Utah State hired John Hartwell from Troy State to be the new athletic director just weeks after extending Wells contract in July of 2015. The 2015 season had promise when Utah State clubbed Boise State at home 52-26 but the Aggies couldn’t finish and lost 4 of their last 5 to finish 6-7. Torrey Green played linebacker for Utah State in the game vs Boise St. and had an interception. Green was a bad egg but nobody knew it at the time. Utah State had their president announce his retirement in Feb of 2016 and would stay on until a replacement was hired. In August of 2016, Green was a free agent trying to make the Atlanta Falcons. The news went public about a messy rape case involving Green when he was a Utah State player. Green is being charged with 7 cases of rape or sexual abuse. 5 of the women were students at Utah State. Logan police never contacted or charged him while he was at the school and Wells said before the 2016 season began he knew nothing about it. The 2016 season was not a good one and the Agges finished 3-9 the worst season the school had in 8 years since Brent Guy was fired. During the 2016 season, Utah State promoted its Provost, Noelle Cockett, to President and she would start in Jan 2017. Wells knew he had some holes to fill in on the 2017 team so the 2017 recruiting class was important. The class included plenty of junior college transfers, at least 8, and a few risks. Former Texas Tech offensive lineman Robert Castaneda was thrown out of school in May of 2016 because he had been arrested on charges he had stolen a safe loaded with guns out of a home in Lubbock, Texas. The charges were later dropped but Castaneda had picked up and moved to Ellsworth Community College in Iowa where Utah State found him and gave him a second chance. Wells took in another bad boy in the summer of 2017 when he allowed former TCU linebacker Tipa Galeai to enroll and start over. Galeai was caught on video tape intoxicated punching a student repeatedly and he was dismissed from TCU. Utah St improved to 6-7 in 2017 and went bowling in Arizona. They lost but had found a QB in Jordan Love.
Wells contract expires at the end of 2019.
He is headed for his 5th bowl game in 6 years but just had 3 straight losing seasons. He can leave for $800,000. He works for a president and athletic director who didn’t hire him. Yes, he can recruit to at least a 10 win season but may have to carry around a 1 year contract around his neck to do it. He brings in a 10-1 team to Albertsons Stadium with 22 starters who are nomads. The Aggies feature 8 Jc transfers, 5 four year college transfers, 9 high school recruited players, 4 missionaries and 2 guys on second, or last, chances. The entire offensive line are transfers as are 3 of the 4 starting defensive backs.
Wells has made it all work. And, a lot of work has it been.
