The Philadelphia Soul announced today that former Soul linebacker and two-time ArenaBowl Champion, Beau Bell, has been named General Manager and Assistant Head Coach ahead of the 2019 season. Bell spent the 2018 season with the Albany Empire as the Director of Player Personnel/Pass Rush Coordinator during their inaugural season. His group led the league in sacks with 18 while 12 Empire players received All-Arena honors.
In this new role, Bell will oversee all player recruitment and contracts while serving as the top assistant on staff, as well as work with local, regional and national partners that support the Soul’s football operations throughout the season. Bell’s first key date on the calendar as GM will be Player Tryouts on Saturday, November 3rd.
“I am blessed and honored to be named the GM and Assistant Head Coach of the Philadelphia Soul,” said Bell. “Receiving this title shows the confidence that the Soul ownership, front office and coach have in myself and my abilities. I look forward to bringing back championships for this organization and our fans.”
As a player, Bell arrived in Philadelphia in 2015 via trade from the LA KISS, and immediately made an impact on the field, in the locker room, and in the local community. Over the course of three seasons with the Soul, Bell led a defensive unit that ranked at or near the top of every statistical category while capturing back-to-back ArenaBowl Championships in 2016 and 2017. He was named First Team All-Arena in 2017, while also taking home Defensive Player of the Year honors and was presented with the Commissioner’s Award, which recognizes an individual who has done considerable work to grow the game of Arena Football.
“We are thrilled to welcome Beau back to the Soul family as our new General Manager,” said Soul Vice President, Marc Zamarin. “He is uniquely qualified for this role. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more respected individual in this league, and we’re excited to see Beau’s influence on our organization.”
Bell was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 4th round of the 2008 NFL draft after a stellar career at UNLV, where he was a two-time All Mountain West Conference selection (2006, 2007) and named Mountain West Conference Defensive MVP (2007). Bell went on to play in the United Football League and Canadian Football League before finding a permanent home in the Arena Football League in 2011. Prior to joining the Soul in 2015, Bell spent time with the Spokane Shock (2011-2013) and LA KISS (2014).