Richard Bell (coach)

Richard Bell
Biographical details
Born (1937-09-02) September 2, 1937 (age 87)
Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Playing career
1956–1959Arkansas
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1960–1961Walnut Ridge HS (AR)
1962–1963VMI (AC)
1964–1967Georgia Tech (LB)
1968–1969West Virginia (DC)
1970–1974Texas Tech (DC)
1975–1981South Carolina (DC)
1982South Carolina
1983–1987Duke (DC)
1988East Carolina (DC)
1989–1993Georgia (DC/S)
1994Navy (DC/LB)
1995–2006Air Force (DC)
2010–2017Prince Avenue Christian (DC)
Head coaching record
Overall4–7

Richard Bell (born September 2, 1937) is an American former high school and college football coach. His last job was as the defensive coordinator at Prince Avenue Christian School in Bogart, Georgia. He served as head football coach at the University of South Carolina for a single season, in 1982.

After he graduated from the University of Arkansas, in 1962 Bell began his coaching career at VMI. From there he coached at Georgia Tech, West Virginia, Texas Tech and South Carolina as a defensive coach.[1] On January 9, 1982, Bell was formally introduced as the 27th head coach in the history of the South Carolina program.[2] Bell had previously served for seven seasons as the Gamecocks defensive coordinator under previous head coach Jim Carlen. After a single season, Bell was fired by athletic director Bob Marcum on December 1, 1982.[3]

From South Carolina, Bell served as a defensive coach at several other schools. These schools included Duke, East Carolina, Georgia, Navy and Air Force.[1] Bell retired as a collegiate coach after the 2006 season, after 42 years as a coach.[4] After four years in retirement, Bell reentered the coaching world to serve as the defensive coordinator at Prince Avenue Christian School in Bogart, Georgia in 2010.[4] He retired after the 2017 season.[5]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Bowl/playoffs
South Carolina Gamecocks (NCAA Division I-A independent) (1982)
1982 South Carolina 4–7
South Carolina: 4–7
Total: 4–7

References

  1. ^ a b "Player bio: Richard Bell". GoAirForceFalcons.com. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  2. ^ Gaillard, Luther (January 10, 1982). "It's official: Richard Bell new USC football coach". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, South Carolina. p. A1. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  3. ^ "South Carolina head coach Richard Bell loses his job". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, South Carolina. December 2, 1982. p. A1. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Schwab, Frank (April 22, 2012). "At age 74, former AFA coordinator Richard Bell finds happiness coaching preps". The Gazette. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Gazette.com. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  5. ^ Gillespie, Bob (November 16, 2021). "Richard Bell, one-and-done as USC coach: How 1982 season shaped him, players, program". The State. Retrieved November 16, 2021.