Born and raised in the basketball-rich Hoosier state, Wells became known as the "Dean of Indiana High School Coaches". His career included 30 years of successful Indiana high school basketball coaching including more than 50 regional, district, and invitational titles and two Indiana State Championships. Clifford was Head coach at Tulane University from 1945 until his retirement in 1963. From 1963 to 1966, he was an enthusiastic Director of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Clifford has conducted scores of clinics, written numerous articles, and was an active participant in the NABC where he held many administrative positions including president (1958) and executive officer (1966).

Died August 15,1977