Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Macon, Ga. - The Atlantic Sun Conference has named Robert J. “Jake” Bell as its Interim Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officials, effective immediately. Bell will serve in the interim capacity for the remainder of the 2005-06 basketball season. A long-time collegiate official, highlighted by 15 years of work in the SEC (1977-1992), Bell also has experience as a coordinator having served as the Supervisor for the Mid-South Conference from 1993-1997. He will coordinate the assignments and evaluation process for all Atlantic Sun men’s basketball contests, including the season-ending A-Sun tournament.

“We needed someone who could step in immediately and guide the strong program we’ve built through the rest of the season,” said A-Sun Commissioner Bill Bibb. “Jake knows the process, the people and the policies that we’ve set in place and gives us an experienced professional to fill this leadership role.”

Bell most recently worked in collegiate athletics as the interim Athletic Director at Eastern Kentucky University (2004-05). He spent much of his professional career as a coach and a teacher in the Lexington, Kentucky, school system where he was a Biology Teacher and Head Football Coach atmHenry Clay High School from 1969-1993. Bell served as the Associate Principal at Tates Creek High School (Lexington) from 1993-97 while he was the Supervisor for the Mid-South Conference. He spent three years as the Athletic Director at his alma mater, Georgetown College (Georgetown, Kentucky), before returning to Henry Clay as Principal for four years (200-04) before his stint at EKU.

“I am very proud to have the opportunity to work with the Atlantic Sun Conference and the outstanding officiating program that has been established here,” said Bell. “The A-Sun student-athletes and coaches deserve a top rate officiating program and I will be dedicated to maintaining the highest standards for our men’s basketball officiating.”

During his officiating career Bell worked in four NCAA Tournaments and six postseason NIT events. He is a past president of the SEC Basketball Association and the Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Association, as well as the Kentucky Intercollegiate Basketball Associationmand the Bluegrass Basketball Association. He earned his BS in Education and his MA in Counseling from Georgetown (Kentucky) College and he later earned his Doctoral degree in Administration/Supervision from the University of Kentucky.