BRUNSWICK — JB Wells spent his first day as the new Bowdoin College football coach Wednesday doing what coaches in a similar position would do.

He met with his assistant coaches, met with players, spent time in the human resources department finalizing the deal, then got into recruiting.

Wells, 45, is the 29th head coach in Bowdoin’s 126-year football history. He takes over for Dave Caputi, who resigned after 15 seasons.

Wells is a 1991 graduate of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where he was on the football and track teams. He comes from Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts, where he helped establish the football program that began in 2003. Wells is the only head coach the Gulls have known.

Wells developed Endicott into one of the top teams in the region, including a pair of New England Football Conference championships, NCAA tournament appearances in 2010 and 2013, and consecutive ECAC North Bowl victories in 2011 and 2012.

Over 12 seasons at Endicott, Wells had a 75-48 record, a .610 winning percentage.

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His recuiting area at Endicott was New England, but Wells said Bowdoin is a national name and his recruiting will reflect that.

Within a 24-hour period, he planned to talk to recruits from Georgia, California and Hawaii.

“At Bowdoin the world is our recruit. The New England Small College Athletic Conference is a step up academically. With 10 teams and 75-man rosters, there’s a finite number who can play in this league,” said Wells.

“If a young man is a top student and football player, and wants to get the best education possible, we want him to come to Bowdoin College. My focus is getting to know the Bowdoin family, transitioning my family up here, getting to know the current team and players who have already committed, and seeing where our needs are.”

Wells is familiar with Maine high school football. He watched the three state championship games in November at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland and said, “Maine has a real passion for football.”

He will look to recruit Maine players who qualify academically. “I want them to come to Bowdoin,” he said.

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Wells hopes to turn around a program that has had four winning seasons in 30 years. Asked how other NESCAC schools like Williams, Trinity and Amherst have produced consistent winners and Bowdoin hasn’t, Wells said: “That’s the million-dollar question.

“Winning is a fragile thing. Bowdoin has a long football tradition but not a winning tradition. Winning is a mindset. Once you believe in it, you can play freer. That was the case at Endicott. I’m very excited about where we are at here. I feel the stars are aligned to take Bowdoin from a middle-of-the-road program to the next level.”

Wells began his career as the tight ends coach at Brown University in 1991. He then returned to Trinity as a graduate assistant, coaching the offensive line for the 1992 and 1993 seasons before serving as offensive line and strength coach at Bates College from 1994-95.

He then moved to the University of Chicago, where he coached running backs in 1996 and quarterbacks in 1997. He returned to Trinity for one year in 1998 before being named assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Illinois Wesleyan from 1999-2001.

Wells was then named head coach at Endicott on Nov. 29, 2001.

Wells said Bowdoin’s location is an advantage.

“The midcoast area is beautiful and Portland is one of the greatest small cities in the country,” he said. “Boston is only two hours away so it’s easy to get here. Bowdoin’s academics and facilities are top-notch.”

“JB has demonstrated an unquestionable commitment to supporting the academic community and athletic interests of members of his program at Endicott,” said Bowdoin Athletic Director Tim Ryan.

“We are excited for the future of our football program under his leadership. 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.”


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