Division I · United Athletic Conference
Eastern Kentucky University Football
Richmond, KY · the Colonels · Eastern Kentucky University overview
122
Roster
17 over the D-I cap of 105
$6.8M
Team budget
39th percentile in Division I
$55,569
Per roster spot
median $79,762
16
Coaches
1 head · 15 assistant
952
APR
93% of players retained
78%
Admitted
lower half for selectivity
Eastern Kentucky University fields a football team in the United Athletic Conference (NCAA Division I). In 2024–25 the roster carried 122 players, about the median of 119, with 1 head coach and 15 assistants. Team expenses were $6,779,511, below the median of $9.1M — $55,569 per roster spot, lower half of Division I football programs. Under the Division I roster cap of 105 in force from 2025-26, that is 17 over — cuts or attrition are likely, though players already on the roster may stay (230 of 261 Division I programs carried more than the cap). The team's multi-year Academic Progress Rate is 952, about the median of 964, with 93% of players retained year to year. The school gave $3,486,485 in athletic aid across its men's teams, about $11,468 per roster spot.
Among Division I football programs
Where this program sits against its 261 peers (percentile; the tick is the median).
#161Team budgetof 261 · Division I#163Spend per playerof 261 · Division I#93Roster sizeof 261 · Division I#185APRof 261 · Division I
Team budgets across the division
this programevery Division I football program
Roster sizes (cap 105)
this programevery Division I roster
The program
- Roster122 2024–25 season
- Division I roster cap105 17 over last season
- Coaching staff1 head, 15 assistant
- Team expenses$6,779,511 for the year
- Operating expenses$855,028 game-day and travel
- Spend per roster spot$55,569 division median $79,762
- Academic Progress Rate952 multi-year; 966 latest
- Players retained93% year to year
- Eligible96% of player-terms
- Athletic aid, men's teams$3,486,485 school-wide
- Aid per roster spot$11,468 across men's teams
- Recruiting spend, men's$162,562 school-wide
Coaching staff
| Name | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Walt Wells head coach | Head Coach | not on file |
| Jake Johnson | Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line Coach | On file · sign in |
| Andy Richman | Offensive Coordinator / Running Backs Coach | On file · sign in |
| Caleb Cox | General Manager / Wide Receivers Coach / Recruiting Coordinator | On file · sign in |
| Derek Day | Special Teams Coordinator / Outside Linebackers Coach | On file · sign in |
| Mike Dietzel | Assistant Head Coach / Nickels Coach | On file · sign in |
| Maxwell Smith | Quarterbacks Coach | On file · sign in |
| Rashad Watson | Defensive Secondary Coach | On file · sign in |
| Eric Ravellette | Offensive Line Coach | On file · sign in |
| Frank Buffano | Inside Linebackers Coach | On file · sign in |
| Isaac McClain | Tight Ends Coach | On file · sign in |
| Ryan Jackson | Assistant Defensive Line Coach | On file · sign in |
| Jayden Jobe | Assistant Defensive Secondary Coach | On file · sign in |
| Justin White | Assistant Wide Receivers Coach | not on file |
| Gene Pryor | Assistant Offensive Line Coach | not on file |
Put Eastern Kentucky University on a target list, address the whole staff at once, and send each email yourself from Gmail — nothing goes out without you pressing Send.Start your board
Recruiting timing
- Coaches may first contact youSeptember 1 of junior year
- Your own emailsAny time the rule limits what coaches send back
- High-school football players1,029,588 2024-25
- Division I roster spots31,184 261 programs
- Odds of a spot1 in 33 3.0% of high-school players hold a Division I roster spot
General NCAA rule for Division I; the football recruiting guide has the date for each grad year, the eligibility checklist and what to put in a first email.
About the school
What an athlete asks first — each panel opens the full picture.Campus
Full picture →12,726undergraduates · 15,008 students in all
Women 61% Men 39%
- Setting
- Town
- Type
- Public · Doctoral/professional university
- Affiliation
- None
Getting in
Full picture →78%admitted · of 17,082 applicants
SAT middle 50%930 – 1190
ACT middle 50%17 – 24
- Test scores
- Test-optional
- Graduate in 6 yrs
- 55%
Football
Full picture →122on the roster · 2024–25 season
Roster vs the D-I cap of 105122
17 over — players already on the roster may stay
Academic Progress Rate952
93% of players kept year to year
- Team expenses
- $6,779,511 $55,570 per roster spot · lower half of Division I
- Coaches
- 1 head · 15 assistant
- Athletic aid, men's teams
- $3,486,485
- Recruiting spend, men's
- $162,562
Cost
Full picture →$10,852net price · after grants, aided first-years
Net price by family income
- Tuition & fees
- $10,130 in-state · $20,820 out
Campus safety
Full picture →1.11violent offences per 1,000 · students a year, 2022–2024
- In residence halls
- 13 burglaries · 45 sex offences over 2022–2024
- Residence-hall fires
- 12 over 2022–2024
Majors
Full picture →15%of bachelor's degrees in business · 26 fields · Associate's, Bachelor's, Doctorate, Master's
Research Eastern Kentucky University
School pages built around what an athlete needs to know — the program's money and roster room, admissions fit, what a family really pays, majors, campus life and safety.
Football program122 on the rosterPeers, percentiles, nearby programs, comparisonsRankingsWhere it standsEvery list this school is on, nationally and in its divisionAdmissions78% admittedSAT/ACT ladders, test policy, graduationCost & aid$10,852 net priceSticker vs net price by family income, athletic aidMajorsBusiness · 15%Every field and program with degrees awardedCampusTown · 12,726Setting, who is on campus, housing costs, servicesCampus safety1.11 violent / 1,000Three years of reported offences against the divisionAthleticsEvery teamThe whole department: every team, staff and aid
Football programs within 150 miles
| School | Miles | Roster | Budget | APR | Admitted | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Kentucky Division I · Southeastern Conference | 23 | 122 | $43M | 971 | 92% | |
| Centre College Division III · Southern Athletic Association | 27 | 121 | $652k | — | 54% | |
| Kentucky State University Division II · Southern Intercol. Ath. Conf. | 44 | 131 | $1.3M | — | 93% | |
| Morehead State University Division I · Pioneer Football League | 56 | 129 | $1.7M | 930 | 82% | |
| University of Louisville Division I · Atlantic Coast Conference | 86 | 120 | $31M | 984 | 81% | |
| Thomas More University Division II · Great Midwest Athletic Conference | 90 | 137 | $1.6M | — | 97% | |
| Hanover College Division III · Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference | 92 | 125 | $535k | — | 84% | |
| Mount St. Joseph University Division III · Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference | 95 | 145 | $531k | — | 57% | |
| University of Cincinnati Division I · Big 12 Conference | 97 | 120 | $30M | 990 | 88% | |
| Shawnee State University Division II · Mountain East Conference | 99 | — | — | — | — | |
| The University of Virginia's College at Wise Division II · South Atlantic Conference | 109 | 88 | $1.3M | — | 94% | |
| Marshall University Division I · Sun Belt Conference | 112 | 118 | $14M | 951 | 96% |
Other football programs in the United Athletic Conference
| School | Roster | Budget | Per player | APR | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarleton State University 23 over cap | 128 | $8.8M | $69,002 | — | vs | |
| Abilene Christian University room for 12 | 93 | $7.3M | $78,354 | 938 | vs | |
| Eastern Kentucky University 17 over cap | 122 | $6.8M | $55,569 | 952 | vs | |
| Austin Peay State University 3 over cap | 108 | $5.5M | $50,871 | 941 | vs | |
| University of Central Arkansas 60 over cap | 165 | $4.4M | $26,486 | 965 | vs | |
| University of North Alabama 21 over cap | 126 | $3.9M | $30,678 | 965 | vs | |
| University of West Georgia 51 over cap | 156 | $3.5M | $22,735 | — | vs | |
| University of West Florida 19 over cap | 124 | $2.3M | $18,328 | — | vs |
Every United Athletic Conference football program · Football budgets ranked