Football

Lamar Bell joined the Greenville University staff for his second stint in January 2017 and serves as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator, mentoring the GU’s defensive backs. Bell oversaw the linebackers in 2017, before shifting to defensive backs in 2018. Bell began serving as the university’s NCAA compliance coordinator in June 2020.

The 2019 Panther team featured an aggressive defensive, ranking first in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference in opponent third down conversion (27.3%) and second in rush yards per game (105.5 per game), total yards (325.6 per game), sacks (27), interceptions (15), and points per game (23.7 ppg allowed). The rushing yards per game and total yards per game allowed were the lowest for the GU defense since the 2009 season.

Bell guided a defense which consisted of a defensive lineman being named UMAC lineman of the year and first team all-conference selection in 2019. The GU defense has enjoyed eight other all conference selections during Bell’s three-year stint as defensive coordinator.

Prior to returning to GU, Bell spent three seasons at Bluefield College in Virginia. During his tenure at Bluefield, Bell served as the defensive coordinator and had the opportunity to coach multiple positions. He coached cornerbacks, linebackers, and safeties. Their defense significantly improved. Their points per game allowed in Mid-South Conference East Division games decreased from 55 points in 2014 to 18.8 in 2016.

Off the field, he was heavily involved in recruiting and scholarship decisions. He also served as academic coordinator, highlight video coordinator, and athletic representative on the college's hiring committee.

Bell’s first stint at Greenville was during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He was hired as a graduate assistant to coach defensive backs. He was promoted to a full-time assistant coaching position after serving a year as a graduate assistant. He was also part of a coaching staff at Greenville whose teams set a school record with 17 straight wins and the most wins in a single season with nine.

Before Greenville, Bell served as an intern assistant football coach at Methodist University in Fayetteville, N.C. He worked primarily with defensive backs and served as JV defensive coordinator.

Bell is a 2011 graduate of High Point University in High Point, N.C., where he majored in sport management and minored in athletic coaching. Bell began his coaching career while a student at HPU. He was a volunteer coach at High Point Central High School during 2009 season and a student assistant coach at North Carolina A&T State University during 2010 season. During both experiences, Bell worked primarily with defensive backs.

Bell completed his master of arts in education with a concentration in coaching in May 2018.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., he has been married to his wife, Bethany, since December 2019. They reside in Troy, Ill.