Football

Kade Bell was named the associate head coach and offensive coordinator at Tusculum University in the spring of 2020. Bell also coaches the Pioneer quarterbacks and possesses one of the finest up and coming offensive minds in collegiate football.

Bell, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, previously coached at Valdosta State University where he served three seasons (2016-2018) on the coaching staff including 2018 where he was as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach.  He led the Blazers to a perfect 14-0 record and a NCAA Division II national championship in 2018. VSU led the nation in scoring offense that season averaging an outstanding 52 points per game and broke the Division II and Gulf South Conference record for most points scored in a single-season (728).

The Blazers also led the country in yards per play (7.9), points per play (.78 - NCAA II record), yards per rush (7.2) and passing touchdowns (50). Valdosta was also fourth in the country in red zone offense (.901), fourth in total offense (524.0 ypg) and fourth in passing efficiency (167.37).

Bell mentored quarterback Rogan Wells, the 2018 Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Harlon Hill Trophy runner-up. Valdosta State’s quarterbacks amassed 4,855 total offensive yards and accounted for 69 total touchdowns while throwing only six interceptions.

The 2018 VSU offense was one of the most balanced in college football producing 262 rushing yards per game along with 261 passing yards per game, while scoring 50 passing touchdowns along with 40 rushing scores.

The VSU offense produced five All-GSC performers that season including Wells, wide receivers Lio’undre Gallimore and Brian Suands, running back Jamar Thompkins and all-purpose back Seth McGill.  Thompkins was also named the 2018 GSC Freshman of the Year.

In 2017, Bell served as the offensive passing game coordinator with the Valdosta State program while also mentoring the Blazers’ receiving corps including All-GSC standout Dallas Baldner.

In the 20 games he was the chief play-caller for Valdosta State, the Blazers posted a stellar 19-1 record.

In 2019, he served on the coaching staff at the University of South Florida where he was an offensive analyst with the Bulls passing attack.

He served as a graduate assistant coach in 2016 where coached the quarterbacks as Valdosta State went 8-2 during the regular season and advanced to the NCAA II Playoffs. The Blazers averaged 311 passing yards per game which was tops in the Gulf South and eighth-best in the country.

Bell played his collegiate career at Jacksonville University from 2011-2015 where he was coached by his father Kerwin Bell. He was a four-year starting quarterback and finished his career with 9,613 total offensive yards and accounted for 93 touchdowns. He earned All-Pioneer Football League honors and led the Dolphins to a 2014 conference championship.

Bell graduated from Jacksonville in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sports management and later completed his master’s degree in public administration from Valdosta State in 2018.  He and his wife Charlotte were married in February 2019.