Dec. 16, 2011
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Former Oregon State track and cross country coach Sam Bell has been awarded the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) George Dales Award, presented annually to a distinguished individual who, through their efforts, has enhanced the profession of coaching track and field and cross country.
Bell was Oregon State’s track and field and cross country coach from 1958-65. His 1961 cross country team won the national title, the first NCAA team championship for the Beavers, and his 1963 4x880 relay team set a world record in the California Relays.
While at OSU, Bell coached five individual NCAA champions in track and field, guided OSU to a pair of top-10 finishes at the NCAAs, and had three athletes compete in the Olympics. He was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1992, the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Oregon State Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. Bell also coached at California and Indiana, and is in the Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame.
In addition to his intercollegiate experience, Bell has had a wealth of international coaching experience including the 1976 Olympics and with the 1979 USA World Cup.
“Sam is among the legends of our sport and is deserving of this award, one of many he has received during his illustrious career,” OSU women’s track and cross country coach Kelly Sullivan said. “From day one when I was hired Sam and his wife Fran have been incredibly supportive of our efforts to build the program and I know I can say this from everyone here at OSU just how proud of what he did for OSU, for our sport and what he and his wife continue to do to this day. Sam Bell will always be a Beaver!”
Oregon State is in the process of rebuilding its track and cross country program that was reintroduced in January of 2004 with the hiring of Coach Sullivan. The Beavers currently sponsor women’s track and cross country, and broke ground on a track facility last spring. Click here to learn more about the track project.
