Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina University and Catamount head football coach Kerwin Bell have agreed to terms on a contract extension announced today by WCU Director of Athletics Alex Gary. WCU's Board of Trustees approved Bell's contract extension in its regularly scheduled meeting on Friday morning. The five-year extension places Bell under contract at WCU through the 2030 season.
 
Bell has guided the Catamounts to 24 victories over the past four seasons including 19 wins in Southern Conference play, leading Western Carolina to three consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1992-94. WCU's four-year win total under Bell is better than the six previous years combined. The Catamounts posted a runner-up finish in 2024, the best for the program since 1986 and the fourth, second-place finish in the SoCon since joining the league in 1976.
 
"Coach Bell has reestablished a winning culture within our football program here at Western Carolina University," said Director of Athletics Alex Gary. "Under his leadership, our football program has improved each year, achieving a national ranking as high as No. 8 in NCAA FCS Football, and knocking on the door of our program's first ever Southern Conference Championship. We are thrilled to have Coach Bell in Cullowhee for years to come."
 
Bell has improved his career record as a head coach to 117-63 (.552) which includes a 66-35 mark at Jacksonville University (2007-15) and 27-7 at Valdosta State (2016-2018). He notched his 100th career victory on the sidelines in Cullowhee with the 38-17 win over VMI back on Oct. 2, 2022.
 
"I would like to thank Dr. (Kelli) Brown, Alex Gary, and the entire WCU Board of Trustees for their trust in this extension. I am grateful for their continued confidence and support for not only myself, but for the outstanding young men, coaches, and staff in our entire football program. It's a privilege to be the head football coach at Western Carolina," said Bell on the contract extension. "Catamount Nation ranks among the best fan bases and communities in the country, and I'd like to thank them for their loyal support and the energy they provide our football team. I look forward to many great years to come and bringing a Southern Conference championship to Cullowhee."
 
Known for his offensive coaching prowess, Bell has guided Western Carolina to a school record in yardage in each of the past four years. The Catamounts have surpassed 5,000 yards on offense every season including 5,181 yards (2021), 5,339 yards (2022), 5,545 yards (2023), and a school-record 5,665 yards this past season. In addition to leading the country in total offense in 2023, WCU has finished inside the Top 10 in total offense each of the last four seasons. In 2023, WCU was the only NCAA FCS team to finish the year averaging over 500 yards per contest at 504.1 yards per game.
 
The Catamounts have averaged 32 or more points scored per game over the last four years, averaging 33.7 points per game to rank among the top-scoring four years in program history. Overall, WCU has ranked among the Top 25 in scoring average in three of Bell's four seasons.
 
Before patrolling the sidelines at Western Carolina, Bell guided Valdosta State to the 2018 NCAA Division II national championship in 2018 to cap a 14-0 season. He won 15 consecutive victories over two seasons, twice made the NCAA Division II playoffs, and a No. 1 ranking in the postseason polls. Bell also earned the 2018 Don Hansen NCAA Div. II Co-Coach of the Year in addition to the Gulf South Conference's co-Coach of the Year plaudit.
 
Bell also led Jacksonville University to three Pioneer Football League (PFL) championships as head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach. He was named the 2008 PFL Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award gived to the nation's top coach after leading the Dolphins to a 9-4 record.
 
The Catamounts head into year five under Kerwin Bell and the second under both coordinators Rylan Wells and Jerry Odom with annual spring drills anticipated to begin in late March through the early days of April 2025, culminating with the squad's annual Spring Game.
 
Season tickets for WCU's six-game 2025 home schedule are on sale now through the WCU Athletics Ticket Office on the first floor of the Ramsey Center or by phone at (828) 227-2401. Tickets can also be renewed or purchased online at CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets.
 
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