ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Griffon Athletics has named Wes Bell as the new Director of Sports Performance at Missouri Western State University.

Bell, a former defensive assistant coach for Griffon Football from 2007-15, rejoins MoWest after a four-year stint as the head football coach and Athletic Strength Coordinator at Cameron High School in Missouri.

"This place is super special and important to me," Bell said. "I've known (Griffon head football coach) Tyler Fenwick for years, going back to our time together at Minnesota State-Moorhead (2006-06). It had to be the right fit to get me back into the college level. I'm grateful to Andy Carter, and the entire administration at MoWest for making this possible. A lot of familiarity, and it felt like family."

As head coach, Bell helped lead Cameron to back-to-back district title game appearances, which hadn't been done since 2005-06.

Prior to his time at Cameron, Bell was the head football coach and Athletic Strength Coordinator at El Dorado High School in Kansas from 2019-22.

Bell got his coaching start at the collegiate level at Southwestern College in Kansas in 2004 as a special teams and defensive assistant before jumping to NCAA Division II Minnesota State-Moorhead in 2005, serving as special teams coordinator, strength and conditioning coordinator, and eventually defensive coordinator.

Bell first came to MoWest in 2007, coaching defensive line before becoming defensive coordinator under then head coach Jerry Partridge from 2013-15. Bell was also the strength and conditioning coordinator at MoWest from 2009-14.

Bell's stint at MoWest was very successful, as the Griffons averaged 8.5 wins per season in his last seven years with Griffon Football.

"We are excited to welcome Coach Bell back to Griffon Nation," Director of Athletics Andy Carter said.  "Wes is a culture builder, a difference maker and natural leader. He understands MoWest, our mission and the evolution of our sports performance area."

Bell, who coached 30 all-MIAA athletes and four all-Americans at MoWest, was also on staff at Central Missouri as defensive coordinator from 2016-19. In total, Bell brings 22 years of coaching and education experience, including 15 at the college level.

"Dr. Zach Fears did a great job with strength and conditioning here," Bell said of his predecessor. "My hope is to keep building on that strong foundation. I have a great staff. My whole role is to continue to take this program to the next level."

Bell and his wife, Rebecca, have two sons: Chase, a soon-to-be high school senior and football standout, and current Griffon defensive lineman Gavin Bell.