Indiana University Athletics
Fran Bell alongside the new bronze portrait bust of her late husband, legendary IU Track and Field Coach Sam Bell
IU Athletics to Unveil, Dedicate Bust of Former Track Coach Sam Bell During Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships
5/10/2018 2:12:00 PM | Cross Country, Track and Field
Bloomington, Ind. – The Indiana University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will unveil and dedicate a bust of former IU Track and Field Coach Sam Bell on Saturday, May 12, at the Robert C. Haugh Complex at Billy Hayes Track. The ceremony will occur at the end of the second day of competition at the Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships, currently scheduled to conclude at 7:15 p.m.
The bronze portrait bust will be located on the facility's main concourse, facing the start/finish line. It will honor the 29-year Hoosier coach, who was one of the most influential voices in the sport at the collegiate, national and international levels before his passing in 2016 at the age of 88.
The commemorative art piece was made possible by donations from across the IU community and is the work of Marc Mellon, one of the world's foremost representational sculptors.
"We were extremely fortunate to have Coach Bell leading our program for 29 years, but his impact on track and field extended well beyond Indiana University," Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass said. "This beautiful piece will serve as a reminder of the enormous contributions he made to not only IU, but the sport that he loved and the untold number of students who he positively impacted."
Shortly after graduating from Doane (Neb.) University in 1950, Bell began a head-coaching career that lasted 40 years. He first spent seven years at Oregon State (1958-65), a run that included an NCAA team title in men's cross country in 1961. After a four-year stop at Cal-Berkeley (1965-69), he came to Bloomington with the goal of returning the Hoosier program to a level of national prominence and significance it had not enjoyed since Billy Hayes retired in 1943.
Bell did just that. During his 29 years at the helm of the program, he led Indiana to 26 Big Ten team championships, including 19 in men's indoor and outdoor track and field. His athletes won 20 NCAA individual championships, and seven competed in the Olympics.
One of those NCAA champions and Olympians, Terry Brahm, will be among the speakers at the ceremony, which will be emceed by Indiana University Assistant Athletic Director Chuck Crabb. Brahm was an NCAA champion in the 5,000-meter run in 1986 and represented the United States in the same event at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
Also scheduled to share their thoughts on Bell are Brahm's wife, Nina; Bell's daughter, Beth Ahearn; Indiana University Track and Field Coach Ron Helmer; and Indiana University Vice President Emeritus Terry Clapacs.
Nine members of the Bell family will attend, including his wife, Mrs. Fran Bell. Numerous Hoosier track and field alumni, whose team reunion was scheduled to coincide with the dedication, will join them.
"It is very telling that many of Sam's former athletes were adamant that he be recognized in some meaning and long lasting way," said Helmer. "I think this bust will signify both the meaningful and long lasting effect Sam had on his athletes as well as the sport of track and field in general. This will be a permanent and constant reminder of his contributions and commitment to the both the sport and coaching profession."
The bust's creator, Marc Mellon, is well known around the world. His works are displayed from New York to Los Angeles to Tokyo, and have included some of the most influential people in the sports, business, philanthropy and the arts. Among the individuals who have been recognized with Mellon bronzes are Pope John Paul II, Michael Jordan, Arthur Ashe, Mickey Mantle and President George H.W. Bush.
Mellon's work is also well known at IU. He sculpted the bust of Dr. Herman B Wells that is located in the lobby of IU's Wells Library, as well as one of Curt Simic located at the IU Foundation. Other local works of his include bronzes of legendary Hoosier diving coach Hobie Billingsley in the Henke Hall of Champions; of former IU Foundation President and IU Soccer supporter Bill Armstrong at Armstrong Stadium; and of Bart Kaufman, the namesake of IU's baseball facility.
The bronze portrait bust will be located on the facility's main concourse, facing the start/finish line. It will honor the 29-year Hoosier coach, who was one of the most influential voices in the sport at the collegiate, national and international levels before his passing in 2016 at the age of 88.
The commemorative art piece was made possible by donations from across the IU community and is the work of Marc Mellon, one of the world's foremost representational sculptors.
"We were extremely fortunate to have Coach Bell leading our program for 29 years, but his impact on track and field extended well beyond Indiana University," Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass said. "This beautiful piece will serve as a reminder of the enormous contributions he made to not only IU, but the sport that he loved and the untold number of students who he positively impacted."
Shortly after graduating from Doane (Neb.) University in 1950, Bell began a head-coaching career that lasted 40 years. He first spent seven years at Oregon State (1958-65), a run that included an NCAA team title in men's cross country in 1961. After a four-year stop at Cal-Berkeley (1965-69), he came to Bloomington with the goal of returning the Hoosier program to a level of national prominence and significance it had not enjoyed since Billy Hayes retired in 1943.
Bell did just that. During his 29 years at the helm of the program, he led Indiana to 26 Big Ten team championships, including 19 in men's indoor and outdoor track and field. His athletes won 20 NCAA individual championships, and seven competed in the Olympics.
One of those NCAA champions and Olympians, Terry Brahm, will be among the speakers at the ceremony, which will be emceed by Indiana University Assistant Athletic Director Chuck Crabb. Brahm was an NCAA champion in the 5,000-meter run in 1986 and represented the United States in the same event at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
Also scheduled to share their thoughts on Bell are Brahm's wife, Nina; Bell's daughter, Beth Ahearn; Indiana University Track and Field Coach Ron Helmer; and Indiana University Vice President Emeritus Terry Clapacs.
Nine members of the Bell family will attend, including his wife, Mrs. Fran Bell. Numerous Hoosier track and field alumni, whose team reunion was scheduled to coincide with the dedication, will join them.
"It is very telling that many of Sam's former athletes were adamant that he be recognized in some meaning and long lasting way," said Helmer. "I think this bust will signify both the meaningful and long lasting effect Sam had on his athletes as well as the sport of track and field in general. This will be a permanent and constant reminder of his contributions and commitment to the both the sport and coaching profession."
The bust's creator, Marc Mellon, is well known around the world. His works are displayed from New York to Los Angeles to Tokyo, and have included some of the most influential people in the sports, business, philanthropy and the arts. Among the individuals who have been recognized with Mellon bronzes are Pope John Paul II, Michael Jordan, Arthur Ashe, Mickey Mantle and President George H.W. Bush.
Mellon's work is also well known at IU. He sculpted the bust of Dr. Herman B Wells that is located in the lobby of IU's Wells Library, as well as one of Curt Simic located at the IU Foundation. Other local works of his include bronzes of legendary Hoosier diving coach Hobie Billingsley in the Henke Hall of Champions; of former IU Foundation President and IU Soccer supporter Bill Armstrong at Armstrong Stadium; and of Bart Kaufman, the namesake of IU's baseball facility.
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