December 18, 2025
Good, Better, Best: Honoring the Life of Coach Richard Bell
It is with tremendous gratitude for a life well lived that Prince Avenue Christian School honors the life and legacy of Coach Richard Bell, who passed away on December 13.
After a remarkable 44-year career coaching college football, Coach Bell was a legend long before he arrived on the Prince campus in 2010. Drawn to Athens to be closer to family, he quickly realized he was not ready to retire and still had more to give – to the game, to the coaches, and to the players. He joined Prince as the Defensive Coordinator under Head Coach Mark Farriba to help the fledgling Prince football program during what proved to be pivotal years. Just two seasons later, the Wolverines made their first appearance in a state championship playoff game.
Athletic Director Richard Ricketts, who had served on staff at the University of Georgia during Coach Bell’s tenure there, maintained a close relationship with him. When Ricketts learned that Coach Bell was retiring from college football, he didn’t hesitate to reach out. “I begged him to come to Prince Avenue,” Ricketts recalled. “Begged!”
Coach Bell quickly became a beloved presence on campus, known for his signature phrase: “Good, better, best! Never let it rest, ’til your good is your better and your better is your best.” He lived that mantra daily. In addition to coaching football, Coach Bell served as the middle school PE teacher, where it was common to see him doing push-ups or running a mile alongside his students, every one of whom he knew by name.
Ricketts describes Coach Bell as a rare blend of discipline and relationship – a fierce competitor who genuinely loved people. “Coach Bell was instrumental in shaping the PACS football program into what it is today,” Ricketts said. “Under his leadership, our culture was completely changed.” He added, “Not only was Coach Bell a tremendous coach with success at numerous colleges and universities, but more importantly, he was a man of deep faith. His leadership and life influenced literally thousands of players and coaches.”
One of those players is Prince alumnus Chandler Gray (Class of 2014), who is now a middle school social studies teacher and high school assistant football coach in Camden County, Georgia. Coach Gray says that Coach Bell had the rare ability to coach players hard without ever making them feel inadequate. “He made us feel seen, loved, and appreciated. Even after my playing days were over, he continued to reach out, check in on me, and help in any way he could.” Gray explains that Coach Bell taught him football, but more importantly, he showed him that relationships between players and coaches matter most. “The more kids and players know you truly care, the more you are able to push them to be their best every day.”
Another former Prince player, Luke Wells (Class of 2018), who graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology and is currently working as a nuclear engineer in Lynchburg, Virginia, says that Coach Bell’s high standards for physical preparedness, understanding of the game, and character left a lasting impression. “Coach Bell helped instill in me a work ethic that has helped me long after football. He was always quick to share the Gospel and point me to the importance of growing spiritually.”
Coach Bell spent the final years of his coaching career at Prince Avenue, serving under head coaches Mark Farriba and Jeff Herron from 2010 to 2017. During that time, he helped lead the Wolverines to five region titles, consistent state playoff appearances, and the program’s first trip to the state championship game in 2012 at the Georgia Dome, where the Wolverines finished as state runner-up.
A visitation in honor of Coach Bell will be held on Sunday, January 11, at Prince Avenue Baptist Church at 2:00 p.m., followed by a celebration of life service at 4:00 p.m.
Written by Amy Frierson, Prince Director of Marketing and Communications