Track Community Mourns Loss of Sam Bell

"Sam was one of the most incredibly supportive people I have ever met."

Those words from Oregon State women's track and field/cross country head coach Kelly Sullivan on the passing of legendary coach Sam Bell. Bell passed away peacefully Monday morning in Bloomington, Ind., at the age of 88.

Bell, a native of Columbus, Mo., was one of the pillars of the sport. His name appears in the Halls of Fame of United States Track and Field, the United States Cross Country Coaches Association, Oregon State University and Indiana University.

"From day one being hired in this position to bring track and field back at OSU, Sam was on board and both he and his wife Fran reached out to former athletes and others to encourage them to become involved," added Sullivan.

Bell began his college coaching career at Oregon State when he was introduced to the community May 21, 1958 at the age of 30 by then school athletic director R.S. (Spec) Keene. He came to Corvallis after a successful career at Cottage Grove High School in Oregon where he was described as a "rising young coach." While at Cottage Grove he coached legendary miler Dyrol Burleson who twice broke the national high school mile record

He led Oregon State teams and individuals to numerous achievements, including guiding the 1961 cross country team to the national title – the first for an Oregon State team in any sport – led by individual champion Dale Story. Bell coached five NCAA champions, guided the program to a pair of NCAA top-10 finishes and had three athletes compete in the Olympics. In 1963 the quartet of Jan Underwood, Jerry Brady, Norm Hoffman, and Morgan Groth set the world record in the 2-mile relay.

"Sam was not only an excellent coach – he was truly a quality person who took a personal interest in each of his athletes," said former OSU athlete Mike Kelly. "I did a lot of growing up during my time at OSU and Coach Bell helped me along the way."

Bell left Oregon State for the University of California following the 1965 season and then to Indiana University after the 1969 campaign. He led the Hoosiers to 22 Big Ten titles, 23 top-10 NCAA finishes and two NCAA cross country titles.

"I served as his graduate assistant coach (1964-65) and he was a wonderful role model for me as I began my career as a cross country and track coach at McNary High School in Salem," said Stu Fors. "He really got track at OSU going as a top-rated program in the country and I'm very proud to have been a part of the team during those early days."

Bell also was heavily involved in international coaching, leading the United States' men's distance team at the 1976 Olympics, and he directed the 1979 U.S. World Cup team and 1987 U.S. Junior Pan-American team.

He graduated from Doane College in 1950 and later earned his master's degree in physical education from the University of Oregon in 1956. He began his coaching career at Wymore High School in Nebraska following his graduation from Doane, followed by prep stints in Oregon at Central and Cottage Grove.

Memorial arrangements are pending.

What others are saying:
"I always think of Sam as a mentor to so many and to myself for the rest of my life. Though I was never a talented athlete at OSU's level in the 1960s, Sam inspired me to make a success in every life task. I loved working for him and Bernie Wagner as a team manager and lessons learned with the team served me well since. R.I.P. coach! Bruce Harmon

"Fran and Sam loved OSU and he mentioned to me a number of times, that those young men he got to coach at OSU had a very special place in his life and that of his family. OSU was his first collegiate coaching job and anyone who has coached collegiately; you will never forget that first job. The Bell family, certainly never forgot OSU." Kelly Sullivan

"Professionally, Sam introduced himself to me back in 1986, when I was a young coach at Auburn University. He knew somehow that I was raised in Oregon and he told me in no uncertain terms that he wanted me to personally become more involved in the sport, not just coaching my athletes, but to give more time to the entire sport as a whole." Kelly Sullivan

"I knew Sam well also. I worked with him for 9 years promoting various aspects of the U.S. Olympic Sports Festival. He and Phil Henson were remarkable at Indiana University while helping young coaches like myself learn so much about track and field, and cross country. He and Berny (Wagner) were old school coaches who put their lives into both sports and were involved with both the AAU and U.S. Track and Field. They were the pioneers of track All-Comer meets, the coaches certification programs, and both were excellent speakers on the coaches presentation circuit. What I liked about Sam was his honesty and professionalism. He would tell you if you needed to get better in certain areas of coaching track and cross country, and yet, would be the first to compliment you about your progress and success. Lastly, Sam was a fighter for what was ethically correct or wrong. I saw him battle at coaches conventions to get a national coach for the hammer throw and he won. On top of that he recommended the University of Oregon Hammer Coach for that position! He did what was right for the sport and didn't worry if a rival coach who was the best coach for the job. Coach Sam Bell was one of a kind who will never be forgotten. He made a huge difference to and for our sports. He is a great loss to all of us, but God now has another great coach to lead his Olympic team." Marcel Hetu

"No one can argue with the fact that San Bell was a great track coach. The performances of his athletes at Oregon State, California and Indiana prove that. He was not just a great distance coach or a field coach, he proved that he could develop great athletes in every event. But more than producing results on the athletic field, San Bell was a special human being. He was sincerely interested in the education and success in life of every athlete he coached whether they were Olympic material or last place in the league championship.

Sam was like a father to me from the time he came to OSU my sophomore year in Corvallis throughout me raising my family. He always knew exactly what to say when I won and when I lost. After leaving OSU and I was competing for the Air Force, I seriously pulled a hamstring muscle 9 days before the 1964 Olympic Trials. When I arrived in Los Angeles the day before long jump, Sam met me at the airport and said he had heard I was injured and that he had gone to Portland and got some DMSO from the scientist who discovered it and thought it would help me. Although I could not walk without a severe limp he came to my room at the dorm every hour all night long and applied DMSO to my black, hard, hamstring. When I got up the next morning I could walk and by the time of the competition I could run a little. I didn't make the team but I came within couple of inches. I could not have competed at all if Sam Bell had not been by my side with his magic liquid.

When Sam took over as head coach at UC Berkeley, I was trying to get into the graduate business school there but didn't have the grades. He called the admissions office once a week all summer long trying to convince them that I was worth admission. The week before school started they gave in and let me enter the school.

The amazing thing was that Sam was like that with all of his athletes. Everyone of his former tracksters from each college has a similar story to tell. I only hope that I can leave this earth having such a positive impact on just 10 percent as many people as Sam affected during his life. Fran always supported Sam in whatever he did. The two of them made such a great team. Nancy and I will miss Sam, but we know Fran will carry on without him as a 'second Mother' to all of us until she meets Sam in the next life.

Darrell Horn

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