Former Alabama volleyball player Alyiah Wells has been named assistant coach for the Crimson Tide, head coach Rashinda Reed announced Monday.
Wells returns to Tuscaloosa after a collegiate career at Alabama from 2019 to 2023, where she played in 117 matches and recorded 987 kills, a .312 hitting percentage, and 411 blocks. She was recognized as an SEC All-Freshman team member in her first season. Following graduation, Wells played professionally in Europe for Sens Volley 89 in France during the 2024-2025 season and later served as team captain for MÁV Elore Foxconn in Hungary’s first division in 2025.
In a statement about her return, Wells said: “It’s an honor and a blessing to return to Tuscaloosa, where I committed to at just 15 years old. I spent five years helping to grow this program on the court and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to do so from the sidelines alongside the same staff who believed in me from the very beginning.”
She also expressed appreciation for her mentor: “I’m incredibly thankful for Coach Reed’s mentorship over the past four years. She pours her heart and soul into developing this program and its players every day, on and off the court, even long after they leave the Capstone. During my time playing for her, we always discussed building a program people would be proud to be a part of, creating a winning culture and leaving a legacy. Now, I’m even more excited to bring my loyalty and passion for Alabama into a new role.”
Wells thanked those who supported her throughout her career: “Thank you to Coach Reed, Greg Byrne and the entire compliance and administrative staff who watched me grow from an 18-year-old student-athlete into someone ready for this opportunity,” she said. “I’m proud to be home with my family after my professional career in Europe.
“Thank you to my parents and grandparents for your endless support of a little girl chasing her dream of becoming a professional athlete and always putting me in the best position to be successful. I would not be here without my village! I can’t wait to get to work and be back in Foster Auditorium this fall. Bama has always had my heart. Roll Tide!”
Wells is originally from Memphis, Tennessee. Before joining Alabama as a student-athlete, she was named Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year while at Briarcrest Christian School.
