Walt Wells has his replacement for Kevin McKeethan, and in the process, Wells again has a full staff as his Eastern Kentucky football program seeks a second-straight Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs berth.
Wells has hired former University of Kentucky stand-out tight end CJ Conrad to coach the Colonels' tight ends.
After a brief professional career that included time in an NFL camp, Conrad has spent the past three seasons on the staff of Mark Stoops at his alma mater.
Conrad served in both graduate assistant and quality control roles for the Wildcats.
"I am excited to welcome C.J. and his wife, Katie, into our EKU football program," Wells said in a statement from EKU. "I had the great fortune to watch C.J. play during my time at Kentucky.
"He is a highly motivated, intelligent young coach who has played the position and had great success. I am very excited about what he brings to our tight ends room."
Wells was a quality control coach at Kentucky during part of Conrad's career with the Wildcats.
McKeethan left EKU earlier this offseason to take over as offensive coordinator at Carson-Newman in East Tennessee, an area to which McKeethan is a native.
EKU returns several key players on both sides of the ball as it seeks to continue its climb under Wells. The Colonels face Conrad's former team Sept. 9 in Lexington, just one week after they open their season at Scott Satterfield's new Cincinnati program.