By Lee Trawick Riverbend News
On Monday, Aug. 30, the Hamilton County Trojans announced hiring long-time volunteer coach, Morris Bell, to take over the Lady Trojans softball program. Coach Bell has over 25 years of experience in coaching through various sports. When talking to Coach Bell about the returning players and the younger ladies that will move up in the next several years, Coach Bell is excited, "I am excited about the softball program for Hamilton County. These girls can be good. The girls who are there now and coming up were part of some great little league teams and they have all stuck together. So, I know they can do great things here; the first thing they have to do is change the culture around the program. There is talent there and I am excited for those girls," Coach Bell commented before his hiring.
Bell is a well-respected member of the community by his peers. Bell is a minister at Sanctuary of Praise church in Greenville, Fla. While Bell is from Madison County, he has invested in the Hamilton County school system. Bell has been married to Surretta Bell for 25 years and, together, they have raised three daughters and have become grandparents to their granddaughter, Arrianna. Bell has taken an interest in the youth, not only in Hamilton County, but the surrounding counties, as well. Bell understands his role as a role model and as a child of God. Bell has his priorities set as God, family and his ministry and the community's young people; without one, no other has a purpose. Bell will look to continue to positively influence his players and students of Hamilton County High School.
While Coach Bell is excited about his girls, he knows he will have an uphill battle. Coming off a season of 0-16 to go along with an 0-3 season, cut short by COVID-19, Bell must first change the culture among his girls and get them back to their winning ways. The question is not if he can turn the culture around, but rather: will the Lady Trojans buy into his program? Bell has been a winner throughout his life and positively impacts all those who cross his path. Therefore, Hamilton County is excited to have Bell and they are excited to see where he will take the program and are eager to see how long it will take him to get them there.
Bell is coming into the Trojan program at the perfect time, only losing four seniors from last year's team; Bell will have one senior returning with the rest underclassman. Bell will have several years with this group before they will be handing the torch down.