BRUNSWICK, Maine — J.B. Wells understands the dynamics of being a student-athlete at a New England Division III institution.
That should help make the Trinity College graduate a good fit at Bowdoin College, where he has been hired as the school’s 29th head football coach.
Wells, a 1991 Trinity graduate, arrives at Bowdoin after a successful, 12-year stint at Endicott College in Boston, where he guided the Gulls to a 75-48 overall record (.640). He replaces Dave Caputi, who stepped down last fall after 15 seasons directing the Polar Bears.
“JB has demonstrated an unquestionable commitment to supporting the academic, community and athletic interests of members of his program at Endicott, and we are excited for the future of our football program under his leadership,” Tim Ryan, Bowdoin’s Ashmead White Director of Athletics, said in a press release.
“JB’s success as a head football coach speaks for itself and his personal experience as a two-sport athlete in the NESCAC will be invaluable. We are thrilled to welcome JB and his family to the Bowdoin community,” Ryan added.
Wells built the Endicott program from the ground up, starting in 2003, and developed it into a regional power. The Gulls won New England Football Conference titles and competed in the NCAA Division III Football Championship in 2010 and 2013.
While at Endicott, Wells helped develop nine All-Americans and more than 100 All-NEFC honorees. He was named the 2010 Gridiron Club of Greater Boston Division II/III Coach of the Year, the 2010 New England Football Writers Division II/III Coach of the Year and the 2013 New England Football Conference Coach of the Year.
His coaching career began as the tight ends coach at Division I Brown in 1991. Then he was a graduate assistant for one season at Trinity and headed the offensive line and strength program at Bates College in Lewiston during 1994-1995.
Wells moved on to the University of Chicago, where he coached the running backs in 1996 and the quarterbacks in 1997, then returned to Trinity for one year before taking over as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Illinois Wesleyan University from 1999-2001.
Wells received a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1991 from Trinity College, where he was a three-year starter on the offensive line and also threw the shot put and discus. He earned a master’s degree in education from Endicott in 2005.
Talbot withdraws from Husson
Matt Talbot appeared to have a bright basketball future ahead of him at Husson University.
One semester into his career, the former Portland High School standout has stepped away from the game.
Husson men’s basketball coach Warren Caruso has confirmed that Talbot has left the team and has withdrawn from the university.
“He has left school citing he no longer had an interest in playing basketball,” Caruso said via a text message.
Talbot, a 6-foot-7 freshman forward, was a productive player for the Eagles. In 11 games, he ranked fourth on the team with 8.5 points per game and was Husson’s second-leading rebounder (6.4 rpg).
He made six starts and averaged 28.4 minutes per contest, also providing 16 blocked shots. He shot 79 percent from the foul line.
“We wish him luck moving forward and will move forward with the student-athletes who want to be a part of our program,” Caruso said.
Talbot had averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds last winter while helping Portland rattle off 22 consecutive victories on its way to the Class A state championship. He was selected for the Bangor Daily News All-Maine First Team.