J'Ville Tabs HS Coach for HC Vacancy

[TexasTerror]

Kerwin Bell will coach the Dolphins of Jacksonville. The Dolphins have been miserable since arriving on the FCS scene. They just completed a 4-6 season this past year. Best of luck to J'Ville as they try to get their act together and regroup in the Pioneer. They did start 4-1 before finishing the season 4-3 in Pioneer play.

Bell to coach Jacksonville University

By Gregory Broome
Ocala Star-Banner

OCALA — Trinity Catholic High School head coach Kerwin Bell reached a tentative agreement to become the new head football coach at Jacksonville University on Sunday night.

"It's looking good," Bell said in a phone interview Sunday.

JU assistant athletic director for media relations Joel Lamp said the school is "still in discussions" with Bell, as the two sides are "hammering out the details."

"If everything goes as planned, we'll have everything tied down by (today)," Lamp said Sunday.

If the remaining details are settled, a news conference to announce the deal will be held Tuesday at Jacksonville. Lamp declined to discuss the length and amount of the contract, though the deal was believed to be for four years.

Trinity Catholic athletic director Gary Belger could not be reached for comment Sunday.

When and if the deal is finalized, Bell will have made the rare jump from high school head coach to college head coach.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/GS/20070101/GATORS01/701010301

[DFW HOYA]

From the article: "When and if the deal is finalized, Bell will have made the rare jump from high school head coach to college head coach."

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/GS/20070101/GATORS01/701010301

Not so rare. Todd Dodge just became HC at North Texas from a high school post, and he will be a great college coach.

[TexasTerror]

Not so rare. Todd Dodge just became HC at North Texas from a high school post, and he will be a great college coach.

Dodge was a college assistant...

Had to check back and yes, Bell was a coordinator elsewhere (CFL), so he has pro experience...

[gatadotcom]

For those of us old enough to remember, Kerwin Bell was a helluva college player. If he can bring some of his experience and knowledge to JU, then he may have a chance of moving the Dolphins program out of the cellar.

Bell threw for 7,585 yards as the University of Florida's quarterback from 1984 to 1987, and he led Florida to its first Southeastern Conference title in 1984. He was named the "SEC Player of the Year" in 1984 and completed his career in 1987 as then the greatest statistical passer in SEC history.

The Miami Dolphins picked Bell in the seventh round of the 1988 NFL Draft before cutting him in training camp. He spent one season with the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and was a backup with the Indianapolis Colts from 1996 to 1997. He also worked as a graduate assistant at Florida under Steve Spurrier and playing for the Orlando Thunder of the World League of American Football.

[blukeys]

My personal view is that someone who can coach successfully at one level can do it at another. The biggest problem this guy has is that he must now RECRUIT. Yes there is some of this done at the High School level but it is not the same.

Evaluating talent and making judgements about who can play at the next level will be the difficult transition. This guy's record shows he knows the X's and O's. Best of luck to him!!!:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[flea]

I remember Bell playing in the day glo jerseys of the Orlando Thunder in the WLAF. One game they had a camera in his helmet & he got sacked amazing watching this player bear down on him

[Mr. C]

For those of us old enough to remember, Kerwin Bell was a helluva college player. If he can bring some of his experience and knowledge to JU, then he may have a chance of moving the Dolphins program out of the cellar.

Bell threw for 7,585 yards as the University of Florida's quarterback from 1984 to 1987, and he led Florida to its first Southeastern Conference title in 1984. He was named the "SEC Player of the Year" in 1984 and completed his career in 1987 as then the greatest statistical passer in SEC history.

The Miami Dolphins picked Bell in the seventh round of the 1988 NFL Draft before cutting him in training camp. He spent one season with the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and was a backup with the Indianapolis Colts from 1996 to 1997. He also worked as a graduate assistant at Florida under Steve Spurrier and playing for the Orlando Thunder of the World League of American Football.
There was another Kerwin Bell just slightly before this guy, who was a high-profile running back out of California's prep system. The first Kerwin Bell was a big recruit for Kansas at a time when the Jayhawks were not very good. He went on to some good things before a bad knee injury pretty much ruined what would have been a good pro career.

[Cobblestone]

Not so rare. Todd Dodge just became HC at North Texas from a high school post, and he will be a great college coach.


I remember Gerry Faust going from Moeller (sp?) high school to Notre Dame. Although to this day I still cannot figure out how and why.