PITTSBURGH – Duquesne University head football coach Jerry Schmitt has named Mike Craig, architect of one of the top defenses in Division II at California University of Pennsylvania, as defensive coordinator and former NFL starting offensive lineman Reggie Wells, Jr. as defensive line coach it was announced today.

Craig, who just completed his sixth season as defensive coordinator at Cal U, served on Schmitt's staff from 2010-13, where he coached linebackers for three years and defensive backs for one season. He also served as special teams coordinator during his first stint on the Bluff.

Wells, Jr. spent the past to seasons as a volunteer assistant on the Cal U. staff.

Craig brings a over a decade of Northeast Conference playing and coaching experience to the Dukes the Bluff.

Last season, Craig helped Cal U finish 21st in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 - the program's first final ranking since 2016.
    
The Vulcans (9-1, 5-1), who finished with one loss for just the third time in a half-century, ranked among the Top 10 nationally in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense under Craig's tutelage.     
    
Craig, who worked with an All-American every season at Cal U, helped develop over 20 All-PSAC West selections, including more than a dozen first-team honorees.

In 2019, prior to the canceled 2020 season, Craig's Cal U defense led D-II and finished fourth among all NCAA divisions in rushing defense by allowing just 56.5 yards per game. Cal U also finished eighth in the country in red-zone defense and forced 29 turnovers, the program's highest total since 2011.

In 2016, Craig transformed the Vulcans into one of the top defenses in the country, ranking fifth in the country in total defense and eighth in scoring defense, while helping the program capture its first league title since 2008.

Craig spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons as the defensive coordinator at his alma mater, Saint Francis U, where he helped the Red Flash finish second in the Northeast Conference in 2015. SFU led the NEC and ranked eighth in the FCS in passing defense that season.

Craig worked with six All-NEC selections in his two years at SFU, including three-time first-team safety Lorenzo Jerome.

Prior to moving to Saint Francis U, Craig helped Duquesne earn a share of the NEC title in both 2011 & 2013. In 2011, Craig worked with the linebackers on a defense that led the FCS in passing defense and ranked fourth in the nation in total defense.

Craig's linebacking corps produced DU's top three tacklers in both 2011 and 2012. One of his pupils, Dorian Bell, earned third team All-American honors (Sports Network) in 2012 and was named to the 2013 preseason Buck Buchanan Award Watch List.

Craig also worked with an All-NEC specialist in each of his four seasons as special teams coordinator for the Dukes.

A native of Imperial, Pa., Craig started his coaching career as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Saint Francis, where he helped develop All-NEC linebackers Scott Lewis and Matthew Parker, who rank first and second respectively in career tackles at SFU.

Craig played linebacker for the Red Flash from 2002-06 under then-head coach - and former Duquesne defensive coordinator - Dave Opfar. Craig registered 227 tackles and 31.5 TFL during his career, totaling over 45 stops in every season.

Craig earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Saint Francis in 2006 and completed a master's degree in human resource management at SFU in 2014. He resides in Pittsburgh with his wife, the former Mame Brumbaugh, their son, Francis, and daughters, Mary Margaret and Claudia.

Mame's grandfather, Boyd, quarterbacked Duquesne to a 13-12 win over Mississippi State in the 1937 Orange Bowl.

Wells started over 90 games in his 10-year NFL career (2003-12). Taken in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, Wells started every game for the Cardinals, without missing a snap, from 2006-09.

Wells started at left guard and was a team captain for Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII while playing alongside Pro Football Hall of Famers Kurt Warner and Edgerrin James.

Following his time in Arizona, Wells appeared in eight games with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010 before joining the Carolina Panthers in 2011. He closed his NFL career the next season after splitting time with the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers.

Wells' playing career began at Clarion, where he was a four-year starter from 1999-02 and earned All-America honors from the AFCA, Associated Press, D2Football.com and Football Gazette.

In 2019, Wells was one of 11 former Golden Eagles recognized among The PSAC's 150 Contributors, which is comprised of individuals who made significant contributions to college football. Additionally, he was inducted into the Clarion Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and became part of the institution's first father-son duo to be selected to the Hall Fame, as his father Reggie Wells, Sr. was an All-American basketball player for the Golden Eagles.

A native of Library, Pa., Wells helped South Park High School capture the state football championship in 1997.

Wells completed his degree in communication from Clarion in 2008 and received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the university in 2010.

He and his wife Lara reside in Venetia, Pa.