Liberty hires Scott Wells as Flames new head men’s soccer coach

After guiding Gardner-Webb to unprecedented success and creating a championship culture, Scott Wells has been named Liberty University’s new men’s soccer head coach.

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.”

Wells guided Gardner-Webb to a nine-win improvement during his second season at the helm of the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ program, finishing the 2024 season with a 13-4-3 record.

The 2024 season included a pair of wins over top-25 programs, defeating nationally ranked High Point twice during the year, including a win to capture the team’s first-ever Big South Conference Championship.

Following the program’s historical championship run, Gardner-Webb opened up the 2024 NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship with a 1-0 first-round win over Oregon State.

This past season, Wells continued to guide Gardner-Webb into new territory, as the Runnin’ Bulldogs were ranked as high as No. 7. This marked the first time a Gardner-Webb athletics program had ever been ranked inside the top 10 in a national ranking.

Gardner-Webb finished the 2025 season with a 13-3-2 record and was in the discussion for an at-large bid to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship with a RPI ranking of No. 35.

“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.”

Prior to arriving in Boiling Springs, N.C., to guide Gardner-Webb’s program, Wells helped 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 campaign 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 12th in goal differential, 13th in winning percentage and 16th in scoring offense.

UNCG earned its highest ever ranking in the final national polls, coming in at No. 5 when the United Soccer Coaches poll was released in mid-December. The Spartans cracked the top 25 in early September and moved back into the polls for good on October 11.

“First, I want to thank Travis Wyckoff of Kingdom Coaching for their persistence and belief that I was the right fit for the role,” continued Wells. “I also appreciate Ian McCaw and Erin Hagen for their time and effort during the interview process.

“I would also like to thank Kelly Findley for the fantastic job he has done establishing a winning culture, and finally, Gardner-Webb University for giving me my first opportunity as a head coach. The last three years have been unforgettable.”

“My family and I are excited about moving to Virginia and eager to dedicate ourselves to the Liberty Flames.”

Success has followed Wells at each of his career stops in the sport. He came to UNCG after 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 and followed with an 18-1-2 mark – and unbeaten regular season – in 2018. Charleston outscored its opponents 54-3 during the 2018 campaign.

Wells’ entrance into the college coaching ranks was sensational 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 riding a 13-match win streak.

Wells played collegiately at Limestone in Gaffney, S.C., leading 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.