Former USF offensive coordinator Kerwin Bell named coach at Western Carolina

Seventeen months after completing his lone season as coordinator for an overmatched USF offense, Kerwin Bell has been hired as coach at Division I-AA Western Carolina.

The former Gators quarterback, named the SEC Player of the Year following a surreal redshirt freshman season in 1984, Bell will be formally introduced as Catamounts coach Wednesday morning.

“We talk every day about Catamount athletics having a winning mentality and the confidence to believe we can bring championships to our university,” WCU athletic director Alex Gary said in a statement released by the school. “Kerwin is a proven winner and has shown the ability to build successful programs. We are thrilled to welcome him and his family to Cullowhee.”

Bell, 55, takes over his third small-college program. He posted a 66-35 record in nine seasons at I-AA Jacksonville University, which discontinued the program following the 2019 season; and went 27-7 in three years at Valdosta (Ga.) State, leading the 2018 Blazers to a 14-0 record in Division II national title.

But he couldn’t replicate that success in his lone season at USF, where the Bulls struggled to adapt to his elaborate pro-style scheme and were hindered by myriad injuries at quarterback.

The Bulls were embarrassed 49-0 by Wisconsin in a nationally-televised season opener en route to a 4-8 finish. They finished the season ranked 112th or worse nationally in yards per game (330.8), scoring (20.8 ppg) and passing offense (169.6 ypg).

He inherits a Catamounts team that has totaled seven victories in the last three seasons under predecessor Mark Speir. WCU finished 1-8 this past season, playing mostly a spring schedule due to the coronavirus.

Among those on Speir’s staff: former Plant High quarterback Phillip Ely, who has spent the past two seasons as Catamounts quarterbacks coach.

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