Heading into his potentially 1,000th win Friday, Dec. 20, before a full house at Rabbit Gym, former Taylor boys basketball coach and current Graford coach Jeff Bell quipped that if his squad didn’t win, he would look awfully silly.
He needn’t have worried.
Noting the seriousness of the situation, the Jackrabbits jumped out to a 30-0 lead on visiting DeLeon and cruised to a 90-34 win, giving Bell his momentous victory. Only 30 coaches nationwide have reached 1,000 wins. With family, friends and fans filling the gym, Bell, who coached in Taylor from 1994 to 2000, was honored with a postgame ceremony.
His assistant coach, Steve Stegall, who picked up the 400th win of his career in the Lady Rabbits’ victory earlier in the evening, said Bell’s intensity is what makes him who he is and fuels everyone around him.
“Coach Bell took a chance on me in 2002 at Brock,” Stegall said. “It’s been a thrill coming back to work for him as an assistant the last three years. I’ve never seen a guy work so hard.
Every detail needs to be perfect, and that’s what makes him who he is.”
His youngest son, Jake Bell, said his father still approaches every game the same way.
“It’s what makes him the best,” Jake Bell said.
“I’ve coached with him. I’ve coached against him. He approaches every game like it’s a state championship game. Every practice is a state championship practice. He makes everyone around him better.”
An emotional Jeff Bell gave credit to his players over his 40-year career.
“If you ask kids to run through a wall for you, you better be willing to run through a wall for them, and I always have been,” Bell said. “I’ve tried to teach the players accountability, hard work, dedication and discipline over the years.”
His wife, Jennifer, has been by his side throughout. “She has let me live my dream and gave up her career so I could have mine,” Bell said.
He also thanked Graford’s administration and school board for standing behind him over the years. That, in part, is why the school was able to hang back-to-back state championship banners in 2022 and 2023. Bell has won four state titles in his career.
“I love it here. That’s for sure,” Bell said. “With this group, we have a chance to do it again.”
Bell said he has loved the game of basketball since he was 4 years old.
“I’ve woken up every day just simply wanting to get better,” Bell said.
