Upcoming Event: Football versus Illinois on September 6, 2025 at 12 p.m.
Football
vs Illinois
Football
Wells, Justin
Justin Wells
- Title:
- Chief of Staff
- Email:
- justin.wells@duke.edu
- Phone:
- (919) 684-2635
Justin Wells joined the Duke football staff in January 2024, and currently serves as the assistant director of athletics/football chief of staff. He was elevated to his current position in September 2025 after joining Duke as the football chief of staff.
Wells and Diaz reunite after working together for six seasons (2016-21) at the University of Miami.
In his role with the Blue Devils, Wells will oversee all logistics of the program by maintaining the day-to-day operations in addition to serving as the program’s liaison with other departments.
He comes to Durham after spending the last year and a half (June 2022-December 2023) in a non-sports role working as the director of operations for former Miami offensive linemen and current Hurricanes radio broadcaster, Don Bailey Jr., at Don Bailey Flooring. While there, he led company-wide projects of selecting, implementing, and training new software programs to manage finances, inventory, point of sale and other business functions. He also had a hand in the hiring and training of new employees.
Prior to that, Wells served eight seasons (June 2014-June 2022) in a variety of different roles at Miami. He started as a football operations intern for one year (2014) before transitioning to the football operations assistant position for two seasons (2015-16). Wells then spent four years (2017-20) as the Hurricanes’ assistant director of football operations before being elevated to the director of football operations (2021-June 2022) for his final year and a half.
While the director of football operations at Miami, Wells managed all administrative functions related to the program and ensured strategic goals were met by developing schedules, training employees and planning events. Additionally, he spearheaded a locker room renovation project which required integration of both university staff and external vendors.
A native of Beacon Falls, Conn., Wells graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor's degree in sports management in 2013.
Wells is married to the former Misa Passalacqua of Madison, Conn., and they are the parents of one son, Hunter.
Wells and Diaz reunite after working together for six seasons (2016-21) at the University of Miami.
In his role with the Blue Devils, Wells will oversee all logistics of the program by maintaining the day-to-day operations in addition to serving as the program’s liaison with other departments.
He comes to Durham after spending the last year and a half (June 2022-December 2023) in a non-sports role working as the director of operations for former Miami offensive linemen and current Hurricanes radio broadcaster, Don Bailey Jr., at Don Bailey Flooring. While there, he led company-wide projects of selecting, implementing, and training new software programs to manage finances, inventory, point of sale and other business functions. He also had a hand in the hiring and training of new employees.
Prior to that, Wells served eight seasons (June 2014-June 2022) in a variety of different roles at Miami. He started as a football operations intern for one year (2014) before transitioning to the football operations assistant position for two seasons (2015-16). Wells then spent four years (2017-20) as the Hurricanes’ assistant director of football operations before being elevated to the director of football operations (2021-June 2022) for his final year and a half.
While the director of football operations at Miami, Wells managed all administrative functions related to the program and ensured strategic goals were met by developing schedules, training employees and planning events. Additionally, he spearheaded a locker room renovation project which required integration of both university staff and external vendors.
A native of Beacon Falls, Conn., Wells graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor's degree in sports management in 2013.
Wells is married to the former Misa Passalacqua of Madison, Conn., and they are the parents of one son, Hunter.
Coach Diaz Media Availability: Illinois
Wednesday, September 03
Jeremiah Hasley Media Availability: Illinois
Tuesday, September 02
Sahmir Hagans Media Availability: Illinois
Tuesday, September 02
Coach Diaz Press Conference: Illinois
Monday, September 01
