Wells grew up in Candler, North Carolina, where he attended Enka High School from 1969 to 1973. A standout athlete at Enka, Wells earned eight varsity letters in football, wrestling, and track. In football, he was named to the all-Buncombe County football team in 1971 and 1972. In 1970, his sophomore year, Enka started a wrestling program, and Wells joined its first team. His high school wrestling accomplishments included winning a Buncombe County championship, the Western Carolina Invitational championship, and finishing third place at the 1973 state tournament.

He then attended Western Carolina University, majored in Health and Physical Education, and graduated in 1977. He wrestled for two years at Western Carolina until the program was dropped in 1975. Wells earned the Most Improved Wrestler award in his sophomore year and qualified for the NCAA Division II National Tournament. After graduating, Wells embarked on a 48-year career in education and athletics that included stops at seven high schools: Sylva-Webster (1976-77), North Hall (Georgia) 1977-79, Brevard (1979-88), Enka (1988-92), Asheville (1992-2015), Polk County (2016-21), and Madison County (2021-23).

As a wrestling coach (1977-2003), Wells led teams to eight conference championships, four sectional championships, five regional championships, and two state runner-up finishes. His 1985 Brevard team captured the state championship, and Wells was named Coach of the Year by North Carolina Mat News. Combined, his wrestling teams won over 40 tournaments. He coached 13 state champions, 18 state finalists, and 25 state medalists. Two of his wrestlers were named the state tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler. As a football coach (1977 to 2015), Wells coached on 20 conference championship teams, five state semi-finalist teams, one state runner-up team, and was the defensive coordinator for two state championship teams.

Wells worked in Athletic Administration for most of his career, and his administrative and wrestling leadership included various roles, including serving on the NCHSAA Board of Directors (2014-15). He was named Region 8 Athletic Director of the Year (1992) and the NCHSAA Athletic Director of the Year in 2015. Wells has served as the President of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame North Carolina Chapter (2007-present) and has been the tournament director of both the Southern Conference Tournament (1992-2003) and the Mat Jam. In 1994, he was the floor manager for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Tournament hosted by UNC Chapel Hill.

Fully retiring from Athletic Administration in 2023, Wells is an inductee into the Enka High School Hall of Fame (2007), the North Carolina Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (2009), and the North Carolina Athletic Directors Hall of Fame (2018).