A coach’s stature and influence : Sam Bell reconsidered by his athletes and friends

If there has ever been an American Track Coach in recent memory whose influence and impact not only affected his athletes but crossed over into all realms of the Sport, Sam Bell fit that bill. Bell, who passed away this past week at the age of 88.

Here is how Sam Bell was described in the USATF Hall of Fame listing (he was inducted there in 1992):

The reactions from a few across the spectrum who were made better by his friendship, leadership and support throughout the decades without a doubt reflect the legacy left behind by the Hall of Fame Coach.

Marsala’s teammate Terry Brahm echoed the same sentiments. “I can talk about Coach Bell all day long,” said the 1988 Olympian at 5000 meters. “I ran 4:12 as a Junior in High School so I wasn’t heavily recruited, but Coach Bell came to see me run at a Cross-Country meet and came to the house and met my parents, and my decision was made.” Not that he was limited to only coaching the middle-distance runners. “Coach Bell coached everyone,” said Brahm. “We’d be doing 800 repeats and Coach would be at the start and finish with a stopwatch in both hands, and while we’d be running he’d go over to the high jump and pole vault pits and work with those guys too. He multi-tasked very well.”

When it was time for the pressure and preparation for the 1988 Olympic Trials, Brahm once again relied on his Coach. “Coach Bell was also the meet director that year in Indiannapolis,” said Brahm, who was entered in the 5000. “The day of the final, we had breakfast together and I was nervous about my chances, but Coach said, “You’ve been in the top 3 in every event in America so far, so just be yourself and you’ll be fine” and it worked,” said Brahm, who qualified for the Seoul Olympics. Brahm also talked about Bell’s style and his mantra that, “he’d always say, “I want to share a few things with you” to the team, and he also said to everyone, Be yourself, but be your BEST self.”

For legendary York High School Cross -Country Coach Joe Newton, Bell’s passing hit hard as well. “I owe so much to him,” said the 87 years young Newton, who’s shooting for his 29th State title this Fall. “He was a mentor to me, and once he was a friend he was your friend for life!”

Jim Spivey was greatly influenced by Bell as well. “He was always encouraging, and he was always setting for you higher goals,” said the legendary IU NCAA Champion, 3:49 miler and 3-time Olympian. “In 1979, Coach Bell was also very instrumental in taking authority from the Amateur Athletic Union and giving it to The Athletics Congress (Now USATF).” Although it was a little jump, Spivey also stated how due to the change, American Track and Field athletes began getting cash payments, albeit into a bank fund, at the behest of Coaches like Bell, something not done before. “Before that, athletes ere just cashing in their extra plane tickets,” said Spivey. Spivey also discussed the influence that the Coes had on Bell as well. “I remember that Coach Bell visited England and sat with Seb and Peter. When he returned in the Winter of 1981 he told us we were going to start a new workout of 6 X 800s in 2 minutes each, because he saw that it payed off for Seb, and it also paid off for us as well!”

What’s interesting is that Bell’s influence was felt outside of America as well and at the Sports’ highest level. “In the summer of 1986, I went overseas to compete in Europe,” said Brahm. There wasn’t a meet anywhere where someone didn’t know Coach Bell.” For Brahm, the pinnacle for him that Summer was meeting Sebastian Coe. “Here I was, talking with Seb Coe, the world mile record holder and 2-time Gold medalist and the first thing that comes out of his mouth is, “How’s Coach Bell doing?” Brahm had found out that Coe and his Father/Coach Peter Coe had a long friendship with Bell. Newton echoed that as well. “If it wasn’t for Sam Bell I never would have met Peter and Sebastian, and Sebastian would not have stayed at my home in the summer of 1984 to train for the Olympics.” (Here’s the story on Seb Coe and his 1984 success, from our archives: https://www.runblogrun.com/2014/09/the-resurrection-of-sebastian-coe-with-a-little-help-from-his-american-friends–30-years-ago–the-19.html).

Earlier this morning Coe, who now serves as the President of the IAAF, released the following statement–