Drew Bell, James Clemens Track Coach, Named Alabama Coach Of The Year
MADISON- “I didn’t see this coming. I’m stunned.”
That was the reaction of James Clemens head track coach Drew Bell after he learned he was named the Girls Coach of the Year for Alabama by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. His award puts him in the running for the association’s National High School Track & Field Coach of the Year Award.
One boys and one girls coach were chosen for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia and were so honored for their outstanding achievements during the 2019 high school track season. The list of winners were selected by a committee of experts from around the nation.
Bell led the Jets to the school’s first AHSAA Class 7A State Championship during the spring season of the 2019 school year earning him State Track Coach of the Year by the AHSAA. The 53-year old Bell said a lot of people helped him win both awards as he knows the efforts of the entire track program and everyone associated with the elite squad were responsible for the huge success the Jets celebrated.
“Just to win the Class 7A state title is very difficult as the entire team has to be near perfect,” added Bell. I am very grateful for all of the assistant coaches and their valuable assistance they provided.”
In particular Bell singled out the spectacular coaching efforts of longtime assistants Elan Gaddy and Dave Seeley, both of who are not expected to return to their positions next school year due to new job responsibilities away from the school.
Bell has accompanied dozens of his student-athletes to the famous running camp held in Brevard, N.C. this past week and it was there he was found out he had won his first ever national award. Bell said, “I was getting onto our bus during the camp and other coaches there came up to me and congratulated me on winning the national award. I had no idea what they were referring to, but they said they saw a press release on the announcement. I was completely caught off guard on what they told me.”
The James Clemens track program has gone through a marvelous off-season summer workout program with at least 40 athletes in constant attendance. When the school year kicks off next month and the track program begins Bell is expecting anywhere from 150-180 students to be participating in track and field with an additional 50-60 in the cross country program.
Bell said winning the State Coach of the Year was an honor as he will officially receive the award during a coaches’ banquet in Montgomery on the 26th, but a national award- that’s something on an entire different level.
“I like working with these kids at James Clemens as we made a lot of noise in the world of track and we have a good chance at repeating our state title,” said Bell.
The National Coach of the Year will be named in about two weeks.
