George never liked to talk to reporters during his coaching days
- Bryan Schaaf
- August 18, 2018
- 3394
If you visit the soccer complex at the corner of Burbank and Oldman Road on the north end of Wooster with any regularity, chances are you’ve seen the name George Bell during one of your refreshment stops at the concession stand.
But if you’ve read over it and still have no idea who George Bell is, well, I suppose that’s why I felt compelled to fill these column inches this week.
If you grew up in Wayne County kicking a soccer ball during the 1980s and ‘90s and never spent any time under George Bell’s guidance, well, then you’re in the minority.
For young boys in Wooster, George was the one you knew that, if you kept after it, would eventually be your coach at Wooster High School. It was there he’d built the program into a dynamo, one that not only produced wins on the field, but also good, solid human beings off the field who continue to contribute to the community.
For kids like me who grew up outside of the city, George took on more of a mythical feel. He had this knowledge and ability few others around possessed. He was the wizard in Wooster who actually knew how to teach soccer. And when he’d offer a camp for kids outside of the city to attend, by golly you didn’t miss it.
For folks who work with kids, regardless of sport, George Bell is what we all aspire to be.
These are folks who are giving of their time, their knowledge and their patience to try and plant seeds of something they hold near and dear.
This all comes top of mind following the annual Wooster High School boys soccer alumni game a few weeks back, where George, now a resident of Las Vegas, made a rare return to Wooster to be part of the program’s upcoming 40th anniversary celebration.
There, more than 100 alumni turned out to see their mentor and say thanks for all the years of guidance.
Any one of those former athletes is probably better suited than I to talk about George and the impact he’s had on their lives. But I suppose I’m the one with the largest mouthpiece, so here I am.
George also gave me the first yellow card of my coaching career during his post-Wooster officiating gig, so that also may qualify me.
This all came swirling about in my brain when I mentioned George to the teenage girls I coach. And to my amazement, not one of them had any idea who he is or what he’s done for our game.
George Bell, like Mo Tipton, Bill McMillan, Randy Montgomery, Roy Bates and any number of other great coaches around the area who’ve played a role in developing young people are folks who must always be remembered. These are the standard setters who go beyond merely teaching a game.
George, specifically, was as much a life coach to his athletes as he was a soccer coach. And during his return the number of tributes I’d witnessed were truly a testament to the person we all continue to look up to.
George never liked to talk to reporters during his coaching days. A quick skim of the local archives and you’ll find nary a comment for the man who impacted so many. Therefore it’s with great certainly I know George is currently reading this and cringing — and maybe even swearing at me for writing it.
But I’m OK with that.
Assuming George is probably reading this now, I just needed to put it out there.
George — we love ya, we miss ya and thanks for everything you’ve done us.
Cheers.