Richard Bell (American football coach)
 Bell, c. 1958 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 2, 1937 Camden, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | December 13, 2025 (aged 88) Woodstock, Georgia, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1956–1959 | Arkansas |
| Positions | End, guard |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1960–1961 | Walnut Ridge HS (AR) |
| 1962–1963 | VMI (assistant) |
| 1964–1967 | Georgia Tech (LB) |
| 1968–1969 | West Virginia (DC) |
| 1970–1974 | Texas Tech (DC) |
| 1975–1981 | South Carolina (DC) |
| 1982 | South Carolina |
| 1983–1987 | Duke (DC) |
| 1988 | East Carolina (DC) |
| 1989–1993 | Georgia (DC/S) |
| 1994 | Navy (DC/LB) |
| 1995–2006 | Air Force (DC) |
| 2010–2017 | Prince Avenue Christian (GA) (DC) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 4–7 (college) |
Richard Murry Bell (September 2, 1937 – December 13, 2025) was an American college football coach and end. He served as head football coach at the University of South Carolina for a single season in 1982. While playing at the University of Arkansas, Bell played for head coaches Jack Mitchell in his last two seasons as head coach, and Frank Broyles in his first two seasons. He went on to coach for various high schools and colleges and work for several Hall of Fame coaches.
Early life and education
Richard Murry Bell was born in Camden, Arkansas, on September 2, 1937, to Alton and Maureen Bell.[1] He played football at Little Rock Central High School where he was a two-year letterman and made the second All-State team. He was also named the team's most valuable player.[2]
Bell played as an offensive lineman for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks, at both the guard[3] and end positions.[2] During his senior year, the Razorbacks finished the season 9-2, won a share of the 1959 Southwest Conference championship,[4] and beat Georgia Tech in the 1960 Gator Bowl,[5] while Bell served as a graduate assistant and as a team captain.[4][1]
Coaching career
After he graduated from the University of Arkansas, Bell began his coaching career in 1960 at Walnut Ridge High School.[6] He then moved up to the college level in 1962 to coach at Virginia Military Institute.[4] From there he coached at Georgia Tech, West Virginia, Texas Tech and South Carolina as a defensive coach.[7] On January 9, 1982, Bell was formally introduced as the 27th head coach in the history of the South Carolina program.[8] 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.[9]
From South Carolina, Bell served as a defensive coach at several other schools. These schools included Duke, East Carolina, Georgia, Navy and Air Force.[7] Bell retired as a collegiate coach after the 2006 season, after 42 years as a coach.[10] 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.[10] He retired after the 2017 season.[11]
Personal life and death
Bell was married to Marilyn, and had four children.[1] He died in Woodstock, Georgia, on December 13, 2025, at the age of 88. He had been staying in an assisted living facility.[4]
Head coaching record
College
| 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
- ^ a b c "Richard Bell". Legacy.com. The State. December 15, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
- ^ a b "Texas All-Stater at Guard Spot". The Waco News-Tribune. May 12, 1955. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
- ^ "Thumbnail Sketch Of '59 Razorbacks". The Waco Times-Herald. September 18, 1959. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Jones, Matt (December 13, 2025). "Richard Bell, who was Frank Broyles' first team captain and long-time college coach, dies at 88". Whole Hog Sports. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
- ^ Bailey, Mercer (January 3, 1960). "Sports Writers Laud Broyles, Porker Speed". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
- ^ "Bobcats Seek To Extend 2A Win Skein At Searcy". The Sun. September 30, 1960. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
- ^ a b "Player bio: Richard Bell". GoAirForceFalcons.com. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "South Carolina head coach Richard Bell loses his job". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, South Carolina. December 2, 1982. p. A1. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Shurburtt, JC (March 19, 2025). "Year five has been feast or famine for South Carolina football coaches". The Big Spur. Retrieved December 16, 2025.