NCAA: Wells Returns To 'Bama

By Doug Kroll - June 29, 2007

Six days after telling Alabama Athletic Director Mal Moore that he was retiring, Crimson Tide head coach Jim Wells was welcomed back on Wednesday with open arms. Wells is only 52 years old, and his decision to retire last week draw great eybrow raising in Omaha as I'm sure it did throughout SEC country.

Wells is the winningest coach in school history with a record of 553-272 in 13 seasons at the helm of the Crimson Tide. He noted that he couldn't sleep after making his decision to let the game go, and struggled to come to grips with the fact that he'd be leaving behind the program that he's put into the national spotlight.

He's made three trips to Omaha with 'Bama, won six SEC Tournament titles, and two SEC Championships.

Wells said he realized in recent days that he hadn't "lost my passion for the job" and wanted to come back.

"Over the course of the last few days, I knew I just didn't feel right about it," Wells said. "I came to realize that I had personally rushed myself into that decision, that I didn't allow myself the time needed to really consider everything I needed to."

Wells is a good guy and there's not too much else to say about it. He pulled a Dana Altman, except for the fact he didn't agree to coach another team before deciding to return, and upon his return yesterday, he apologized to the fans, players, and everyone else he may have shocked.

Sometimes these coaches get baseball in the blood and just can't get it out. When it's something that you've lived with for your whole life, and you literally eat, drink, beathe and sleep baseball, that's tough to let go. And besides, what else would he do down in there?