Staff Directory
Scott Wells
- Title:
- Head Coach
Scott Wells became the head coach of the Liberty men’s soccer program in December 2025. Wells comes to Liberty after leading the Gardner-Webb men’s soccer program to unprecedented success and creating a championship culture.
During his three seasons in Boiling Springs, Wells led the Runnin’ Bulldogs to back-to-back 13-win seasons, a Big South Championship, an NCAA Championship first-round win, and a top-10 national ranking.
“Scott Wells is a rising star in college soccer with a proven championship track record,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Ian McCaw. “He fully embraces Liberty’s mission to train Champions for Christ and to achieve excellence both on the field and in the classroom.”
“I am thrilled to become the next head coach at Liberty University,” stated Wells. “The program's values of faith, standards, and ambition resonate with what I believe is vital in life.
“There is already a strong foundation and culture within this program, and I look forward to building upon that as we enter the Southern Conference. We aim not only to compete for championships, but also to make deep runs in the NCAA Tournament.”
In 2025, Wells guided Gardner-Webb into new territory, as the Runnin’ Bulldogs were ranked as high as No. 7 in the national rankings, marking the first time in school history that a Gardner-Webb athletics program had ever been ranked inside the top 10 in a national poll.
Gardner-Webb finished the year with a 13-3-2 record and was in the discussion for an at-large bid to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship with an RPI ranking of No. 35. Wells’ squad had a program-record 10 players earn Big South All-Conference honors.
During his second season at Gardner-Webb, Wells led the Runnin’ Bulldogs to a nine-win improvement, finishing the 2024 season with a 13-4-3 record. The year included a 3-1 win over ACC Champion Wake Forest to open the season with a 6-0-1 mark and a pair of victories over a top-25 program, High Point, defeating nationally ranked Panthers twice on their home field during the year, including a win to capture the team’s first-ever Big South Conference Championship.
Following the program’s Big South Championship run, Gardner-Webb opened the 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship with a 1-0 first-round win at Oregon State.
Eight Wells’ Runnin' Bulldogs landed on the Big South All-Conference Team following the 2024 regular season, including first team members Elias Khodri, Max Fisher, and Leo Andrade. Giampaolo Nardi was also tabbed Big South Men's Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Before arriving in Boiling Springs, N.C., to guide Gardner-Webb’s program, Wells helped to build the UNC Greensboro men's soccer program into a top-5 national contender as associate head coach and lead recruiter (2019-20 and 2022).
Wells helped engineer a sensational 2022 season for the Spartans, which started with a 10-match unbeaten streak in August and September. UNCG finished the year with a 13-2-6 mark, won the Southern Conference regular season and conference titles and advanced all the way to the NCAA Elite Eight with tournament wins over Ohio State and Stanford.
The Spartans finished the 2022 season ranked in the top 25 in 12 different national statistical categories. UNCG ranked ninth in total goals, 10th in shot accuracy, 12th in goal differential, 13th in total points and winning percentage, 16th in scoring offense, 18th in total assists, 19th in points per game, 20th in shots on goal, 22nd in goals against average and corner kicks per game and 25th in assists per game.
UNCG earned its highest-ever ranking in the final national polls, finishing the 2022 season ranked No. 5 when the United Soccer Coaches poll was released in mid-December. The Spartans cracked the top 25 in early September and reentered the polls for good on October 11.
Sophomore midfielder J.C. Ngando earned first-team United Soccer Coaches All-America honors after scoring 22 points and posting 14 assists, which ranked second nationally at season's end. In addition, a dozen Spartans earned postseason accolades from the Southern Conference in November.
Wells was also part of UNCG's 2021 SoCon championship during the spring, which saw Theo Collomb earn SoCon Freshman of the Year honors. Collomb went on to earn second-team All-America honors the following fall and was selected by Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft.
Wells' first stint with the Spartans began in 2019, and success soon followed. UNCG won six of its final seven regular-season matches that season, won the conference regular-season title and advanced all the way to the SoCon Tournament finals.
During his time at UNCG, Wells spearheaded the recruitment of four top-25 recruiting classes, providing the foundation for the program's recent success. The Spartans saw 23 student-athletes earn SoCon postseason honors during Wells' tenure.
Two of his recruits, Ngando and Joey Skinner, were selected in the first round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft. Ngando was chosen No. 5 overall by Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Skinner was taken with the No. 11 overall pick by Nashville SC. Another of his recruits, defender Ethan Conley, was drafted in the second round by the New York Red Bulls.
Success has followed Wells at each of his career stops. Before UNCG, he had a terrific two-year stint (2017-18) as the top assistant at the University of Charleston (W.Va.). While there, he helped guide the team to a pair of NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances and the 2017 NCAA Division II National Championship.
The Golden Eagles went 21-2-1 in 2017, followed by an 18-1-2 mark and an unbeaten regular season in 2018. Charleston outscored its opponents 54-3 during the 2018 campaign.
Wells' entrance into the college coaching ranks was successful as well. He began as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Rio Grande (Ohio), helping the Red Storm to a 19-2-2 mark and a No. 1 national ranking during the 2014 regular season.
The following season, as the program's top assistant, Wells saw Rio Grande win the 2015 NAIA National Championship and post a 25-2 record. The Red Storm finished the season on a 13-match win streak.
Wells played collegiately at Limestone in Gaffney, S.C., helping the Saints to 24 wins over two seasons as a team captain. He transferred to the school after beginning his career at Santa Barbara (Calif.) City College. Wells was a first-team All-Western State Conference choice in each of his two seasons with the Vaqueros.
Wells earned his bachelor's degree in liberal studies from Limestone and a master's degree with a focus on collegiate leadership from Rio Grande.
Wells grew up in the Coventry City academy system in England before moving to Derby County in 2003 and Sheffield Wednesday in 2006. He came to the United States in 2007 to begin his college soccer career at Santa Barbara.
Wells and his wife, Carissa, are parents to three young children.
During his three seasons in Boiling Springs, Wells led the Runnin’ Bulldogs to back-to-back 13-win seasons, a Big South Championship, an NCAA Championship first-round win, and a top-10 national ranking.
“Scott Wells is a rising star in college soccer with a proven championship track record,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Ian McCaw. “He fully embraces Liberty’s mission to train Champions for Christ and to achieve excellence both on the field and in the classroom.”
“I am thrilled to become the next head coach at Liberty University,” stated Wells. “The program's values of faith, standards, and ambition resonate with what I believe is vital in life.
“There is already a strong foundation and culture within this program, and I look forward to building upon that as we enter the Southern Conference. We aim not only to compete for championships, but also to make deep runs in the NCAA Tournament.”
In 2025, Wells guided Gardner-Webb into new territory, as the Runnin’ Bulldogs were ranked as high as No. 7 in the national rankings, marking the first time in school history that a Gardner-Webb athletics program had ever been ranked inside the top 10 in a national poll.
Gardner-Webb finished the year with a 13-3-2 record and was in the discussion for an at-large bid to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship with an RPI ranking of No. 35. Wells’ squad had a program-record 10 players earn Big South All-Conference honors.
During his second season at Gardner-Webb, Wells led the Runnin’ Bulldogs to a nine-win improvement, finishing the 2024 season with a 13-4-3 record. The year included a 3-1 win over ACC Champion Wake Forest to open the season with a 6-0-1 mark and a pair of victories over a top-25 program, High Point, defeating nationally ranked Panthers twice on their home field during the year, including a win to capture the team’s first-ever Big South Conference Championship.
Following the program’s Big South Championship run, Gardner-Webb opened the 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship with a 1-0 first-round win at Oregon State.
Eight Wells’ Runnin' Bulldogs landed on the Big South All-Conference Team following the 2024 regular season, including first team members Elias Khodri, Max Fisher, and Leo Andrade. Giampaolo Nardi was also tabbed Big South Men's Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Before arriving in Boiling Springs, N.C., to guide Gardner-Webb’s program, Wells helped to build the UNC Greensboro men's soccer program into a top-5 national contender as associate head coach and lead recruiter (2019-20 and 2022).
Wells helped engineer a sensational 2022 season for the Spartans, which started with a 10-match unbeaten streak in August and September. UNCG finished the year with a 13-2-6 mark, won the Southern Conference regular season and conference titles and advanced all the way to the NCAA Elite Eight with tournament wins over Ohio State and Stanford.
The Spartans finished the 2022 season ranked in the top 25 in 12 different national statistical categories. UNCG ranked ninth in total goals, 10th in shot accuracy, 12th in goal differential, 13th in total points and winning percentage, 16th in scoring offense, 18th in total assists, 19th in points per game, 20th in shots on goal, 22nd in goals against average and corner kicks per game and 25th in assists per game.
UNCG earned its highest-ever ranking in the final national polls, finishing the 2022 season ranked No. 5 when the United Soccer Coaches poll was released in mid-December. The Spartans cracked the top 25 in early September and reentered the polls for good on October 11.
Sophomore midfielder J.C. Ngando earned first-team United Soccer Coaches All-America honors after scoring 22 points and posting 14 assists, which ranked second nationally at season's end. In addition, a dozen Spartans earned postseason accolades from the Southern Conference in November.
Wells was also part of UNCG's 2021 SoCon championship during the spring, which saw Theo Collomb earn SoCon Freshman of the Year honors. Collomb went on to earn second-team All-America honors the following fall and was selected by Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft.
Wells' first stint with the Spartans began in 2019, and success soon followed. UNCG won six of its final seven regular-season matches that season, won the conference regular-season title and advanced all the way to the SoCon Tournament finals.
During his time at UNCG, Wells spearheaded the recruitment of four top-25 recruiting classes, providing the foundation for the program's recent success. The Spartans saw 23 student-athletes earn SoCon postseason honors during Wells' tenure.
Two of his recruits, Ngando and Joey Skinner, were selected in the first round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft. Ngando was chosen No. 5 overall by Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Skinner was taken with the No. 11 overall pick by Nashville SC. Another of his recruits, defender Ethan Conley, was drafted in the second round by the New York Red Bulls.
Success has followed Wells at each of his career stops. Before UNCG, he had a terrific two-year stint (2017-18) as the top assistant at the University of Charleston (W.Va.). While there, he helped guide the team to a pair of NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances and the 2017 NCAA Division II National Championship.
The Golden Eagles went 21-2-1 in 2017, followed by an 18-1-2 mark and an unbeaten regular season in 2018. Charleston outscored its opponents 54-3 during the 2018 campaign.
Wells' entrance into the college coaching ranks was successful as well. He began as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Rio Grande (Ohio), helping the Red Storm to a 19-2-2 mark and a No. 1 national ranking during the 2014 regular season.
The following season, as the program's top assistant, Wells saw Rio Grande win the 2015 NAIA National Championship and post a 25-2 record. The Red Storm finished the season on a 13-match win streak.
Wells played collegiately at Limestone in Gaffney, S.C., helping the Saints to 24 wins over two seasons as a team captain. He transferred to the school after beginning his career at Santa Barbara (Calif.) City College. Wells was a first-team All-Western State Conference choice in each of his two seasons with the Vaqueros.
Wells earned his bachelor's degree in liberal studies from Limestone and a master's degree with a focus on collegiate leadership from Rio Grande.
Wells grew up in the Coventry City academy system in England before moving to Derby County in 2003 and Sheffield Wednesday in 2006. He came to the United States in 2007 to begin his college soccer career at Santa Barbara.
Wells and his wife, Carissa, are parents to three young children.
Paola Bueno: Representing Liberty and Mexico
Thursday, January 29
Step Into My Office: Dot Richardson
Tuesday, January 27
NAZSCAR Podcast, Men's Basketball Talk (Jan. 27, 2026)
Tuesday, January 27
Flames Central Podcast: NAZ Joins Show, Talks LU Hoops!
Monday, January 26
