William M. Bell
Biographical details
Born(1909-06-10)June 10, 1909
Polk County, Georgia, U.S.
DiedJune 10, 1991(1991-06-10) (aged 82)
Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S.
Playing career
1929–1931Ohio State
Position(s)Tackle
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1932–1933Howard (assistant)
1934–1935Claflin
1936–1942Florida A&M
1946–1956North Carolina A&T
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1934–1936Claflin
?–c. 1968North Carolina A&T
1969–1975Fayetteville State
Head coaching record
Overall112–48–17
Bowls6–3–1
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 black college national (1938, 1942)
2 SEAC (1934–1935)
3 SIAC (1937–1938, 1942)
1 CIAA (1950)

William McNeil "Big Bill" Bell Sr. (June 10, 1909 – May 10, 1991) was an American football player and coach and college athletics administrator.[1] He served as the head football coach at Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina from 1934 to 1935, Florida A&M University from 1936 to 1942, and North Carolina A&T State University from 1946 to 1956.[2][3]

After graduating from Ohio State in 1932, Bell was an assistant coach at Howard University in Washington, D.C. for two years. In 1934, he was hired as athletic director and head football coach at Claflin.[4][5]

Bell married the former Henrietta Louise Lee of Charleston, South Carolina.[6]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Claflin Panthers (Southeastern Athletic Conference) (1934–1935)
1934 Claflin 5–2–3 1st
1935 Claflin 7–1–1 1st
Claflin: 12–3–4
Florida A&M Rattlers (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1936–1942)
1936 Florida A&M 2–4–1 L Orange Blossom Classic
1937 Florida A&M 7–1–1 5–0–1 1st W Orange Blossom Classic, L Prairie
1938 Florida A&M 8–0 6–0 1st W Orange Blossom Classic
1939 Florida A&M 6–2–1 W Orange Blossom Classic
1940 Florida A&M 6–1–3 T Orange Blossom Classic
1941 Florida A&M 8–1 5–1 W Orange Blossom Classic
1942 Florida A&M 9–0 7–0 1st W Orange Blossom Classic
Florida A&M: 46–9–6
North Carolina A&T Aggies (Colored/Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1946–1956)
1946 North Carolina A&T 4–4 3–4 7th
1947 North Carolina A&T 3–4–1 2–4–1
1948 North Carolina A&T 4–4–1 4–2–1 4th L Vulcan
1949 North Carolina A&T 7–2 5–1 3rd W Orange Blossom Classic
1950 North Carolina A&T 6–2–1 5–0–1 1st
1951 North Carolina A&T 7–1–1 5–1 2nd
1952 North Carolina A&T 6–4 5–2 3rd
1953 North Carolina A&T 4–4 4–2 4th
1954 North Carolina A&T 4–6 2–5 11th
1955 North Carolina A&T 4–1–3 4–1–2 2nd
1956 North Carolina A&T 5–4 3–3 9th
North Carolina A&T: 54–36–7 42–25–5
Total: 112–48–17
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ^ "William Big Bill Bell". afrigeneas.com. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  2. ^ "Football Media Guide" (PDF). famuathletics.com. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  3. ^ "Football Media Guide" (PDF). ncataggies.com. 2009. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  4. ^ "Bill Bell Is Holding Grid Reigns At Claflin". Pittsburgh Courier. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. October 6, 1934. p. 15. Retrieved December 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com open access.
  5. ^ Schlemmer, James W. (March 26, 1936). "Easy Way Is Not Best; Big Bill Bell Becomes Athletic Chief At Florida State A. & M." Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. 29. Retrieved December 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com open access.
  6. ^ "Henrietta Louise Lee". Ancestry.com. Retrieved March 12, 2019.

External links

Claflin Panthers head football coaches
Florida A&M Rattlers head football coaches
North Carolina A&T Aggies head football coaches
North Carolina A&T Aggies athletic directors
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