KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan football program and head coach Lance Taylor have announced the hiring of Walt Bell to the position of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Bell comes to WMU with extensive Power 5 coaching experience. He has been the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Indiana (2022-23), Florida State (2018) and Maryland (2016-17). Bell was at the University of North Carolina as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator, where he coached eventual first-round draft pick Eric Ebron. After that he followed Blake Anderson to Arkansas State (2014-15), where he became the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Under Bell, the Red Wolves averaged over 37 points a game and nearly 500 yards of offense.
"I am excited to announce and welcome Walt Bell to our staff as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach," said Taylor. "Walt is passionate, energetic, detailed, hard-working, and an elite recruiter. He is an experienced and dynamic play-caller with highly productive and successful offenses at the P5 and G5 level. He will be a great addition and asset to our program and will continue to raise the standard in our pursuit for excellence."
Bell also spent three seasons as head coach of UMASS.
"First off, I want to thank Coach Taylor for entrusting me with this incredible opportunity to be the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Broncos and to be a part of what is being built with the Western Michigan Football," said Bell. "I am excited to get to Kalamazoo, meet the team, and get to work."
Bell received two degrees from Middle Tennessee State, where he was a four-year letterman as a wide receiver. He graduated in 2005 with a bachelor's in criminal justice and a master's in sports management in 2006.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT WALT BELL
Blake Anderson, head coach at Utah State – "Walt is one of the most knowledgeable & innovative offensive minds in college football today. I've always thought he did such a great job under really difficult circumstances of bending and evolving his offensive philosophy & system to fit what was best for the moment. That is a rare talent that very few are blessed with, but seems to come naturally to him."
Larry Fedora, former head coach at North Carolina and Southern Miss – "What an excellent hire for Western Michigan. Walt Bell is extremely bright has an innovative offensive mind. Walt does a tremendous job of adjusting his attack based on the skills of the athletes he is coaching. He has the unique ability to run an offense and be a relentless recruiter at the same time."
The hire of Walt Bell is pending a background check.
