Quick Facts
Biography
Mike Wells is an American basketball coach who is the head coach of the Adelaide 36ers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He was involved in the NBA system as an assistant coach from 1995 to 2024 with the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets.
College career
Wells played two seasons of college basketball for Mount Vernon Nazarene University, graduating in 1993.
Coaching career
After graduating, Wells continued with the Mount Vernon Nazarene Cougars as an assistant coach while at the same time attending the United States Sports Academy.
Wells' experience in the NBA began in 1994 with the Houston Rockets, where he started as an intern and assistant video coordinator and worked his way up the ranks to a job as an assistant coach in 1999 before leaving the Rockets in 2004. He also worked as the head scout for Team USA from 1998 to 2003.
After a season as an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004–05, Wells served as an assistant for the San Antonio Spurs between 2005 and 2009. The Spurs won an NBA championship in 2007. Between 2009 and 2011, he served as an assistant for the Washington Wizards.
Wells had three years at the college level between 2011 and 2014, serving as an assistant coach for George Mason (2011–13) and South Florida (2013–14).
In June 2014, Wells joined the Utah Jazz as an assistant coach. He spent eight seasons with the Jazz, the last coming in 2021–22. His final three seasons with the Jazz saw him serve in a dual role of Director of Basketball Operations.
Wells served as an assistant coach with USA Basketball in three of the six qualifying windows for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
For the 2023–24 NBA season, Wells joined the Charlotte Hornets as an assistant coach.
In June 2024, Wells joined the Adelaide 36ers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) as lead assistant coach for the 2024–25 season. On August 12, 2024, the 36ers elevated Wells to the position of head coach after sacking Scott Ninnis.
Personal life
Wells and his wife Kerri have four sons.