JaMario Bell joined El Dorado’s coaching staff a few weeks ago. The Junction City native has already made an impression. Bell will coach receivers and tight ends on the freshman team, tight ends and fullbacks on the varsity and will be the head coach of the eighth grade boys’ basketball team.
“I feels good to be back home, come back to the area where I came from. I see a lot of familiar faces,” said Bell, who coached at a prep school in the Fayetteville area before returning to South Arkansas.
Bell was a 4-star athlete for the Dragons and signed with Arkansas as an athlete under Bret Bielema.
“He brings a lot of experience from the Division I level, playing four years football at Arkansas and also being on their basketball team there. We’re very excited to have him,” said El Dorado coach Steven Jones. “He brings the perspective of a guy who made it out of Union County to play big-time college football. That’s going to bring value and show our kids if they want to go play, that opportunity is out there.”
The 26-year-old brings experience beyond his years after an unusual college career. He started out at defensive end for the Razorbacks but then was moved to tight end and then to linebacker before finally settling at defensive end under Coach Chad Morris.
In his final football season in 2019, Bell was second on the team with 4.5 sacks. He would then play for Eric Musselman’s Arkansas basketball team.
“It was kind of tough just finding exactly where I would fit and then, a lot of it was trying to fit with what the team needed me to do. It was kind of hard but it was an adjustment,” said Bell, who played tight end and defensive end in high school.
“If I had a preference it would’ve been tight end. I looked at myself more as a tight end.”
Bell’s playing time was spotty until he finally settled on a position as a junior and senior.
“It was very exciting, finally finding my spot, finding where they wanted me to be and actually being there and getting to stay there.”
Although frustrating at the time, all the changes probably helped make Bell a better coach.
“I know the defensive side of the ball. I know the offensive side of the ball,” he said. “The more you know, the more knowledge I can give them.
“Everything happens for a reason.”
Bell joins Coach Jones and linebacker coach Byran Jones as Junction City natives on the El Dorado staff. Bell, Byran Jones and running backs coach DeAnthony Curtis are all former Razorbacks on the staff.
Of his career in Fayetteville, Bell speaks most fondly of his one year playing for Musselman on the basketball team.
“It was fun. Basketball was really my first love,” he said. “I never should’ve stopped playing. I think about it now. I never should’ve stopped playing. That was a great experience for me. I’m really glad I got to do that.
“I appreciate Coach Musselman for that. I really do.”
Reportedly, Bell had an option to play basketball and football at Louisiana Tech. Hindsight being 20-20, if he had it to do all over again?
“Yes sir, I would. I’d go to LA Tech and play both.”
Bell doesn’t spend a lot of time dwelling on his past. He’s excited for the future as a coach. He feels his age should put him closer to the players’ level.
“I think it’ll help me relate to them because I kind of know the things they’re struggling with. I can look and tell what they’re struggling with,” said Bell. “I actually play with them a lot. I get to play pick-up with them so I get to do a lot of hands-on coaching. I think that helps them a lot when your coach is right there with you coaching. He’s actually going through it with you. I think it helps that I’m able to practice with them and give them all my knowledge and everything I have.”
“He brings a lot of energy,” Jones said. “So far what we’ve seen from him in practice, he’s been very vocal and involved, really making sure everything is running smoothly.”
Bell, who won a football state title with the Dragons, believes the Wildcats can make winning a habit.
“It’s most definitely a championship attitude here. We’re trying to get that embedded from the seventh grade all the way up. Most of the high school guys get it. It’s just making sure the championship culture goes from year-to-year. We’re trying to continue to have the expectations and build the culture,” said Bell.
“I’m really excited about coaching the ninth grade. That ninth grade group, I’m really excited about coaching them. They’re advanced at understanding. At a very young age, they understand the X’s and O’s, ins and outs. I’m excited to work with them and teach them a lot of the stuff I’m teaching the high schoolers.
“I’m really liking the teaching part, teaching the small, little things - alignments of what the defense is doing. Instead of just going out there, running a route, you know why you’re running the route.”