The Upper Arlington softball team is striving for a fresh start under the new varsity head coach Doug Bell. With a new three-team structure and two brand new assistant varsity coaches, the team has already undergone major changes this season.
Makayla Jauregui and Allison Smith are the two new assistant coaches working alongside Bell. This carefully curated coaching staff plans on using their experience in other districts to offer fresh perspectives that will benefit our team.
Before applying for his current role at UA, Bell was the varsity head coach for the Dublin Scioto softball team. The athletic community at UA was the first to make him turn his head from his previous position.
“UA was probably the only opportunity that I would have applied for. If it was any other school, I would have just stayed at Scioto because I was happy there,” Bell said.
In addition to his new position coaching the UAHS softball team, Bell is balancing an assistant coaching position for the Hilliard Darby football team and a teaching position at Hilliard Weaver Middle School.
Being a male athlete, Bell did not have first hand experience playing softball. However, he does have years of previous athletic experience that have influenced his coaching techniques. Bell’s history playing football and baseball throughout high school has been a large contributor to his competitive attitude.
“[Being an athlete] teaches you how to handle adversity. It teaches you how to put in the work. You know, a lot of people understand that hard work pays off, but a lot of people want immediate gratification, and they think well if I’m working hard now I want the payoff right now. It doesn’t always work like that,” Bell said.
During his time playing football at Hilliard Davidson, Bell’s position coach was the current UAHS head football coach, Justin Buttermore.
“When I coached him, he was a really hard worker. He was a really good player and he was very mature. He always got the most out of his ability, and I’m not surprised at all that he chose to go into coaching. I mean, he was always kind of a coach-on-the-field type kid,” Buttermore said.
Some people are natural leaders from the moment they are put in front of an audience. With an 18-year coaching career and an unwavering appreciation for the role, Bell has made it clear that he was born to lead a team.
“I know [now], and I’ve kind of always known I’m a coach. That’s one of the things that I feel like I’m good at. That’s one of the things that I feel like, you know, it’s your contribution to society,” Bell said.
With the unique athletic community at UA, Bell had to prepare himself to adjust to many differences in team culture. While the transition to coaching in a new district was intimidating, Bell witnessed a drive in the student-athletes at UA that made him hopeful for the upcoming season.
“I remember in my interview to take the job, [someone] asked the question, ‘Hey, if you got this job, what would you do to help make sure that we have enough time to focus on our schoolwork?’ and I remember thinking, ‘I’ve never heard that question from a student-athlete before,’” Bell said.
In the preseason, Bell has prioritized strengthening his connection to the team. Hitting leagues and open gyms have created an opportunity for the team to bond before jumping into a new season. Bell’s extensive coaching background has allowed him to practice adjusting his leadership style to fit the needs of every team.
Switching from football in the fall to softball in the spring has required him to evaluate and quickly adapt to differing team dynamics and expectations. Softball and football are drastically different sports, played at very different paces. Bell is required to keep up with entirely different sports and contrasting team chemistry.
“Boys have to play good to feel good, and girls have to feel good to play good,” Bell said.
No matter the sport, every member of a team is responsible for cultivating a
motivated environment through inevitable ups and downs. In his first few months coaching at UA, Bell has recognized the importance of a strong frame of mind in his players.
“The girls have great attitudes. They [say] ‘thank you’ every day. They work hard every day. They show up every day. I mean, they’re fun to be around,” Bell said.
With an entire season ahead, Bell is hopeful for the team’s future and excited to help them achieve their goals.
“I would love to stay here for as long as I can. I definitely have no aspirations to go anywhere else. Heck, I would love to teach in this district, just seeing how awesome these kids are,” Bell said.
