It was revealed on Tuesday by the Duquesne athletics department that head football coach Jerry Schmitt named Mike Craig as the defensive coordinator and former NFL starting offensive lineman Reggie Wells, Jr. as the defensive line coach.
This is the second stint for Craig at Duquesne, as he served on Schmitt’s staff from 2010-13, where he coached the linebackers for three years and defensive backs for one season, along with serving as the special team’s coordinator.
Craig spent the last six years as the defensive coordinator at Cal U. In 2021, the Vulcans finished the season (9-1, 5-1) and ranked among the Top 10 nationally in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense.
Wells, Jr. spent the past two seasons as a volunteer assistant at Cal U. Wells, who was a sixth-round pick by the Cardinals out of Clarion in 2003, started over 90 games in his 10-year NFL career (2003-12). Wells started at left guard and was a team captain for the Cardinals in their loss to the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII.
After his tenure with the Cardinals, Wells appeared in eight games with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010 before joining the Carolina Panthers in 2011. Wells finished his career splitting time with the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers.
Wells was a four-year starter at Clarion from 1999-02 and earned All-America honors from the AFCA, Associated Press, D2Football.com and Football Gazette. Wells was also a part of South Park’s state championship team in 1997.
