LANGSTON – Langston University and the Langston University Department of Athletics are shocked and saddened to announce that head softball coach Hosea Bell passed away on Friday, September 17, 2021, at the age of 57.
"On behalf of the Langston University Department of Athletics, I would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the family, student athletes, friends and coaching colleagues of Head Softball Coach, Hosea Bell," Langston University Director of Athletics Donnita Rogers said. "Your laughter, kindness and lighthearted banter will be forever missed. Our lives are forever changed for having known you."
Bell was head coach at Langston for eight seasons, taking over the softball program during the 2013-14 season. For his career, Bell tallied 795 career victories which placed him as the sixth winningest softball head coach in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
During his tenure leading the Lady Lions in the Red River Athletic Conference, Bell's squads tallied one NAIA All-American, 14 Red River All-Conference first team selections, four RRAC All-Conference second team selections, one RRAC defensive player of the year and one RRAC player of the year. Bell's success continued when Langston University transitioned to the Sooner Athletic Conference in 2018, he managed to tally up one NAIA All-American, three SAC All-Conference first team selections, six SAC All-Conference second team selections, two SAC Honorable Mention selections and two SAC Gold Glove selections over three seasons in the SAC.
The Lady Lions were just as successful in the classroom under Coach Bell. Since 2017, the Langston University softball program has produced 16 NAIA Scholar Athletes, 16 SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll selections and 44 SAC All-Academic selections.
Most recently, Bell helped spearhead the creation of the National HBCU Softball Classic which developed through his leadership into the Red Dirt Classic held annually at the ASA Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City, Okla. The tournament originally featured eight teams across the country and under Bell's direction grew to feature 13 colleges and universities from across the country.
Prior to his arrival at Langston, Bell served as the head softball coach at Sterling College for 15 years beginning in 1999. At Sterling, Bell was also an assistant football coach and head men's and women's track coach. Other coaching stops included Kansas Newman College in Wichita, Kan. and St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, Kan.
Bell is survived by his wife Pam, nine children, Alyssa Bell, LaChelle Bryant, Ashli Bell, Hosea Trevonte Bell, Quentin Bell, Chrystopher Bell, Lyric Bell, Kendrick Bell, Ariana Bell, and grandbaby Meila Bryant.
