Bell Named to Baseball Staff

July 16, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. -- Mike Bell, who spent the last three seasons at the University of Tennessee and helped lead the Vols to the College World Series in 2005, was named an assistant coach on July 16 as announced by Oklahoma baseball head coach Sunny Golloway. Bell will serve as the Sooners' pitching coach and assist with the program's recruiting efforts.

"I am extremely excited about the hiring of Mike Bell to our staff," said Golloway. "It is my strong belief that Mike will be a true asset to this program as we continue to compete for championships at the University of Oklahoma. I am equally excited for our student athletes as they will be working with an outstanding and knowledgeable coach."

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While at Tennessee, Bell built a reputation as one of the top young coaches in the game as he worked with the Vols' pitching staff and was in charge of recruiting. In three years, he helped produce three All-Americans, three All-SEC honorees, the top four all-time winningest pitchers and four of the top eight single-season strikeout leaders in school history.

On the recruiting front, Bell helped Tennessee collect back-to-back recruiting classes that ranked in the top 15 nationally by Baseball America, including a 2005 class that was ranked sixth best in the country.

Bell's hurlers have also fared well in the Major League Draft as three of his six selections at Tennessee were taken in the first round. In 2007, James Adkins was selected in the first round (39th overall) after becoming the school's all-time leader in strikeouts with 380. In 2006, Luke Hochevar was tabbed the draft's No. 1 overall pick (late first round pick in 2005) and Sean Watson, one of the program's top closers, was also drafted in 2006 in the second round.

"It's definitely an honor to be in the presence of a coaching staff that has been a part of so many championships at so many levels," said Bell. "Coach Golloway was here when OU won its last national title and coach (Tim) Tadlock won multiple titles at Grayson County College. With my College World Series experience, both as a player and coach, I am excited to show what I can bring to the table. I know I am surrounded by a great university and a great athletics department with all the resources in order to be successful. My family is excited to be a part of the OU baseball tradition."

In his first year in Knoxville, the Volunteers returned to the College World Series for the first time since 2001. That same year, the pitching staff set a school record with 568 strikeouts and posted a top 25 ERA at 3.61. In addition, Hochevar won the 2005 Roger Clemens' Award and was named the SEC Pitcher of the Year after he led the nation with 15 wins and set a Tennessee record with 154 strikeouts.

Prior to his assistant position at Tennessee, Bell, a 1996 Florida State graduate, spent two seasons as the recruiting coordinator and pitching coach at Florida Southern College (Division II). At Florida Southern, Bell and the Mocs were 79-35 overall and the 2003 and 2004 pitching staffs each ranked in the nation's top 20 in ERA.

Before transferring to Florida State, Bell began his collegiate career at Pasco-Hernando Community College in New Port Richey, Fla., where he was a two-time All-Sun Coast Conference selection.

At Florida State, Bell and the Seminoles made back-to-back CWS appearances as a pitcher/first baseman in 1994 and 1995. During his FSU career, Bell posted a 14-4 overall record with a 3.00 ERA. He struck out 120 batters in 137 2/3 innings pitched and was twice named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll.

After his collegiate career, Bell was selected in the 20th round of the 1995 draft by the Montreal Expos. He spent three years in the Expos organization (1995-97) and three more with the Baltimore Orioles (1998-2000). While in Baltimore, he advanced to play two seasons with the Orioles' Class-AA team, the Bowie Baysox, in 1999 and 2000.

Following a six-year minor-league career that saw him win 28 games and record 18 saves with a 2.99 ERA, Bell took over as head baseball coach in 2000 at Brandon High School in Brandon, Fla. Under his direction, the Eagles won the 2002 Class 4A-District 9 Championship and Bell was recognized by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA), as the Class 4A Coach of the Year, and by the Tampa Tribune, which tabbed him as the Hillsborough County Coach of the Year.

Bell was a two-time All-Area selection at Riverview High School in his hometown of Sarasota, Fla. He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Florida State in 1996 and is married to the former Alicia Favarato. The couple has a daughter, Alexis Leann (2), and is expecting the birth of a son in 2008.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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