Indiana University Athletics
Fran Bell, Wife of Late IU Track Coach Sam Bell, Passes Away at 94
1/15/2024 6:30:00 PM | Cross Country, Track and Field
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Fran Bell, the wife of late IU Hall of Fame Track and Field Coach Sam Bell, passed away Sunday. She was 94.
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Sam and Fran Bell arrived at IU in 1970. They headed to Bloomington after Sam enjoyed highly successful head coaching stints at both Oregon State (1958-65) and Cal-Berkeley (1965-69). Sam quickly elevated the IU program on both the Big Ten and NCAA levels, distinguishing himself among a legendary group of IU head coaches that also included Bob Knight, Doc Counsilman, Hobie Billingsley, Jerry Yeagley, and Lin Loring, among others.
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While Sam was building IU into a Big Ten Track and Field powerhouse that would eventually capture 22 combined Big Ten team championships during his tenure from 1970-98, Fran was with him every step of the way and a critical part of the program's successes. She was a beloved figure to hundreds of Hoosier track and field student-athletes, many of whom continued to visit the family in Bloomington long after Sam's retirement in 1998 and after Sam's passing in 2016.
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While Fran might have been best known in IU Athletics circles for her support of the Track and Field program and its student-athletes, her impact was much wider. She was a long-time and beloved educator who impacted hundreds if not thousands during her distinguished career as a teacher.
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IU Athletics extends its deepest sympathies to the Bells children Laurie, Julie, and Beth, son Scott, as well as the entire Bell family.
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Sam and Fran Bell arrived at IU in 1970. They headed to Bloomington after Sam enjoyed highly successful head coaching stints at both Oregon State (1958-65) and Cal-Berkeley (1965-69). Sam quickly elevated the IU program on both the Big Ten and NCAA levels, distinguishing himself among a legendary group of IU head coaches that also included Bob Knight, Doc Counsilman, Hobie Billingsley, Jerry Yeagley, and Lin Loring, among others.
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While Sam was building IU into a Big Ten Track and Field powerhouse that would eventually capture 22 combined Big Ten team championships during his tenure from 1970-98, Fran was with him every step of the way and a critical part of the program's successes. She was a beloved figure to hundreds of Hoosier track and field student-athletes, many of whom continued to visit the family in Bloomington long after Sam's retirement in 1998 and after Sam's passing in 2016.
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While Fran might have been best known in IU Athletics circles for her support of the Track and Field program and its student-athletes, her impact was much wider. She was a long-time and beloved educator who impacted hundreds if not thousands during her distinguished career as a teacher.
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IU Athletics extends its deepest sympathies to the Bells children Laurie, Julie, and Beth, son Scott, as well as the entire Bell family.
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