Assistant Coach – 2022 will be 15th Season at Florida
Craig Bell concluded his 14th season with the Gators Baseball program in 2021 after serving as the Seattle Mariners' Supervising Area Scout for Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina in the years spanning 2000-07. At Florida, Bell is involved in all facets of the team and has played an integral role in Florida’s rise to become one of the nation’s premier programs.
Bell has been part of a talented staff which has overseen the Orange and Blue’s resurgence, highlighted by UF’s first national title in 2017 and a runner-up finish at the 2011 NCAA College World Series. The Gators have made seven CWS appearances (2010, ‘11, ‘12, ’15, ’16, ’17, ‘18), 13-consecutive NCAA Regionals, captured five SEC Championships (2010, '11, '14, '17, '18), and won two SEC Tournament titles (2011, '15).
Evidence of the Gators’ increased player development under Bell is shown by 24 players reaching the Major Leagues since 2012. Florida has had a total of 95 MLB Draft picks since 2008. UF also has a league-best 242-147 (.622) conference record from 2008-21.
As the unanimous preseason No. 1 team in 2021, the Gators went 8-1 in home series in the inaugural season at Florida Ballpark, ending the year on an eight-series home winning streak. En route to earning a school-record 13th-straight NCAA Regional berth, the Gators secured series wins over No. 3 Ole Miss, No. 2 Vanderbilt and Georgia. The Gators also started 3-0 at the SEC Tournament for the first time in 21 years, outscoring Kentucky, No. 8 Mississippi State and Alabama by a combined 24-4 margin.
Although Florida did not make it out of Regional play in 2021, outfielder Jud Fabian was named First Team All-SEC and a Third Team All-American (Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA), batting .249/.364/.560 while becoming just the fifth Gator to ever hit 20 home runs in a single season. Fabian also garnered SEC All-Defensive Team honors in the outfield with a .971 fielding percentage and two outfield assists across 139 chances.
Catcher Nathan Hickey and left-handed pitcher Hunter Barco were both selected to the 2021 SEC All-Newcomer Team. Hickey led the Gators with a .317 batting average, .435 on-base percentage and 50 RBI, while Barco paced the team with 10 wins and finished with a 4.01 ERA to pair with 94 strikeouts across 83 innings pitched. Outfielder Sterlin Thompson chipped in an SEC All-Freshman Team accolade, slashing .301/.396/.470 with five home runs and 27 RBI in his debut season in Gainesville.
In the 2020 season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, Florida won its first 16 games, eclipsing the school record for consecutive wins to open a season previously set with 11-0 starts in 1989 and 2002. The Gators' winning streak was also the third-longest in school history, behind an 18-game run in 2012, and a 17-game streak in 2016. The run of season-opening wins included a sweep at No. 1 Miami, a series in which the Gators have won 15 of the last 18 meetings.
Following Florida's only loss of the year, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the season's cancellation. The Gators finished as the No. 1-ranked team all four of collegiate baseball's rankings, though only Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and the USA Today Coaches' Poll officially published rankings following the season's cancellation. At the time of the cancellation, Florida ranked 10th nationally in fielding percentage (.984), 12th in home runs (21) and 16th in earned run average (2.41). Sophomore outfielder Jacob Young finished the season with an active 18-game hitting streak, and became the third Gators hitter since the start of 2009 to record seven consecutive multi-hit games (Jonathan India, March 9-21, 2018; Bryson Smith, May 28-June 12, 2011).
Young garnered a second-team All-America accolade from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, the only outlet to publish All-America honors. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Ben Specht, who had three saves and a 0.75 ERA across 12 innings pitched and nine appearances, was a third-team All-America selection. Left-hander Hunter Barco, catcher Nathan Hickey, and right-hander Tyler Nesbitt earned Freshman All-America honors. A total of 13 Gators made the SEC Academic Honor Roll, and another 10 made the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.
In 2019, O’Sullivan and the Gators extended their program-best postseason streak to 12 years in a row, earning a spot in the NCAA Lubbock Regional while facing the nation’s third-hardest schedule. UF went a combined 18-18 against SEC and ACC opponents to earn an at-large bid to the tournament. Florida went 1-2 and was eliminated despite scoring 29 runs in three games (UF’s most in a regional since 2011 when the Gators scored 33 runs).
Four players were drafted from the 2019 squad, including second-round pick Brady McConnell, who hit 15 home runs on the season, the most ever by a UF shortstop. McConnell and Nelson Maldonado earned second team All-America honors. The Gators had 13 players named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll and another nine on the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.
In 2018, Florida followed up its first national title by winning its second straight SEC Championship and earning the No. 1 overall seed for the NCAA Tournament – all while playing against the nation’s second-toughest schedule. The Gators went 20-10 in SEC play and clinched the league title with four games to play.
For the first time in school history, three players were taken in the first round of the MLB Draft: Jonathan India was selected fifth by the Cincinnati Reds, while Brady Singer (18th), and Jackson Kowar (33rd) were picked by the Kansas City Royals. In addition, senior JJ Schwarz was taken in the eighth round by the Oakland Athletics, infielder Deacon Liput was selected in the 10th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers, closer Michael Byrne was drafted in the 14th round by the Reds, and senior Nick Horvath was taken by the Baltimore Orioles in the 25th round.
Singer was the recipient of the Dick Howser Trophy and was named the National Player of the Year by Baseball America and D1baseball.com and a unanimous First Team All-American. India was also a consensus first-team All-American.
Byrne also earned All-America honors and broke the school record for career saves (35). Schwarz ended his career with more games played (266) and starts (266) than any player in school history and worked his way up the record books and finished his career second in career RBI (237), third in hits (293) and fourth in home runs (50).
Off the field, the Gators had 12 student-athletes named to the 2018 Spring Academic Honor Roll. Six newcomers were named to the 2017-18 First Year Academic Honor Roll.
History was made in 2017, as Florida won its first national championship in school history, sweeping LSU in the CWS Finals by 4-3 and 6-1 scores to bring home the trophy. The Gators finished 52-19 against the nation’s toughest schedule and won an SEC Championship in addition to the national title. Florida won 50-plus games for the sixth time in school history—four of which have come under head coach Kevin O’Sullivan (2011, 2015, 2016, 2017) and the current staff.
A pair of All-Americans led the pitching staff, as junior Alex Faedo led the rotation with a 2.26 ERA and 9-2 record, while Michael Byrne led the nation with a school-record 19 saves. At the conclusion of the season, eight Gators were taken in the 2017 MLB Draft: Faedo (1st round), shortstop Dalton Guthrie (6th round), catcher Mike Rivera (6th round), catcher Mark Kolozsvary (7th round), right-hander David Lee (27th round), right-hander Frank Rubio (29th round), second baseman Deacon Liput (29th round) and Schwarz (38th round).
The 2016 season was a record-breaking year for Florida, as the Gators turned in the best regular season (44-11) in program history and equaled the second-most wins in school history with a 52-16 final record, advancing to the College World Series for the fifth time in seven years. Right-handed pitcher Logan Shore was a unanimous first-team All-America selection, while first baseman Peter Alonso and righty Shaun Anderson also earned first-team honors. Sophomores Alex Faedo and JJ Schwarz also earned All-America honors. In addition, Jonathan India and Deacon Liput were Freshman All-America selections. Following the year, the Gators had another stellar draft class enter the professional ranks with an amazing six players drafted in the first three rounds, including a pair of first-round picks in A.J. Puk and Dane Dunning.
In 2015, Florida advanced to Omaha again and finished ranked No. 3 with an overall mark of 52-18, the second-most wins for the program. In a season filled with success, the Orange and Blue claimed the SEC Tournament with four straight victories, including triumphs over No. 1 LSU and No. 9 Vanderbilt, and swept through the Regionals and Super Regionals held at McKethan Stadium. The trio of outfielder Harrison Bader, catcher/designated hitter JJ Schwarz, and third baseman Josh Tobias achieved All-America status, while second baseman Dalton Guthrie, catcher/designated hitter Mike Rivera, and Schwarz picked up Freshman All-America honors. Schwarz was the National Freshman Hitter of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and Louisville Slugger’s Co-Freshman of the Year, while nine more Gators were taken in the MLB Draft, highlighted by first-rounder Richie Martin.
In 2014, Florida captured the SEC Championship for the third time in five years and reached the 40-win plateau for the fifth time with Bell on staff. Voted third in the Eastern Division in the SEC Coaches’ Preseason Poll, the Gators went 21-9 in league play and secured the program’s 13th conference title, along with its fourth SEC East crown since 2009. The club boasted a pair of All-Americans in catcher Taylor Gushue and right-hander Logan Shore, who was Perfect Game’s National Freshman of the Year and the SEC Freshman of the Year. In addition, Harrison Bader, Gushue, and Shore earned All-SEC recognition. First baseman Peter Alonso, Shore, and third baseman John Sternagel were Freshman All-SEC selections. At season's end, six Gators were selected in the MLB Draft.
The No. 1 team in the nation for the majority of 2012, the Gators were the No. 1 national seed for the NCAA Tournament and swept both the Gainesville Regional and Super Regional to secure the program’s third consecutive College World Series berth and a 47-20 overall record. In a wild SEC race that came down to the final day, UF tied for second in the Eastern Division and third overall, just one game shy of a third consecutive championship. Nine Gators were drafted, including five players in the first three rounds (Mike Zunino and Brian Johnson in the first round, second-rounders Nolan Fontana and Steven Rodriguez, and Austin Maddox in the third round). Rodriguez became the first player from the 2012 Draft to reach the Major Leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers, while starting Seattle Mariners catcher Zunino was the first position player from that class to advance to the Majors.
Florida turned in a remarkable 2011 season that culminated in a school-record 53 victories and a second-place performance in Omaha. Ranked No. 1 in Baseball America’s preseason rankings for the first time in school history, the Gators went 22-8 in league play for the second straight campaign and shared the SEC Championship with South Carolina and Vanderbilt. UF also captured its first SEC Tournament title since 1991. After being rewarded with the No. 2 national seed for the NCAA Tournament, Florida swept through the NCAA Gainesville Regional and defeated Mississippi State in the Super Regional to reach the CWS. At TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, the Gators downed Texas (8-4) and Vanderbilt twice (3-1, 6-4) to reach the CWS Championship Series for the second time in school history.
In 2010, the Gators won nine of their 10 SEC series, including the final eight in a row, and brought home the 11th league title in school history by taking the final regular-season series at South Carolina. Florida finished with a school-best conference record of 22-8 and secured its second straight SEC Eastern Division crown, and its 47 victories marked the second-highest total since the 2005 club went 48-23. In NCAA action, UF knocked off Bethune-Cookman, Oregon State and Florida Atlantic to emerge victorious in the Gainesville Regional for the second year in a row, then swept Sunshine State rival Miami in the Super Regional to punch the school’s sixth ticket to Omaha.
Building upon the momentum generated from 2008, when the Gators earned their first NCAA berth in three years and were the runner-up in the SEC East, Bell’s coaching efforts were rewarded with Florida advancing to NCAA Super Regionals in 2009 for the first time in four years. In addition, the Gainesville crew brought home the SEC East title and finished one game behind co-champions LSU and Ole Miss in the league standings en route to a 42-22 overall mark. Not only did the Gators sweep through their own Regional with a dramatic win over Bethune-Cookman and a pair of victories over Miami, they edged closer to reaching the College World Series in just the coaching staff’s second year.
In his initial season at Florida, Bell worked with a team that had limited expectations but developed into a group that earned the second seed at the NCAA Tallahassee Regional and posted a third-place finish in the SEC. He had previously been an Associate Professional Scout in the Sunshine State for the Cincinnati Reds from 1993-2000. Bell also has experience scouting in Canada, the Dominican Republic and within the Cape Cod Baseball League each summer.
"The one word that describes Craig is 'instincts,'" head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. "His instincts as a coach and an evaluator are solid. He has surrounded himself with great people. He has on the field teaching knowledge on all aspects of the game. We have to be able to evaluate the right player and not go after the guy that’s going to sign (professionally) and not show up. He has the right mentality to make sure these kids have the right makeup we’re looking for and have the toughness that we need to win in the Southeastern Conference.
"I am excited that Craig joined the staff," O'Sullivan continued. "He brings a unique perspective through his involvement in professional baseball and his background here in the state of Florida. Craig is a great fit with my vision for the Gator program and his experiences have enabled him to put together a tremendous amount of contacts throughout the country."
Bell was an assistant coach at Wellington High School in Palm Beach County, Fla., in 1999-2000 and helped the Wolverines to the Class 6A state championship. He was the head coach of the Palm Beach Lakes High School baseball team between 1990-98 and also coached Palm Beach Post 12 in American Legion from 1990-95. Bell earned Coach of the Year accolades from The Palm Beach Post and The Sun Sentinel in both 1994 and 1995 and collected the Palm Beach County Coaches' Association's Class 6A top coaching honor in 1994 and 1997.
During his coaching career, he has had 94 players chosen in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, including 10 first-round picks.
Bell earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from the University of North Florida in 1989, and was a member of the Ospreys' baseball team during the 1988 and 1989 seasons. In addition, he was a two-year letterwinner on the diamond at Palm Beach Community College, where he earned his associate of arts degree in 1987.
Bell, a native of West Palm Beach, Fla., is married to the former Karri Roy of Pontiac, Mich. The couple has two sons, Ryan and Kyle.
THE CRAIG BELL FILE
Birthdate: January 14, 1966
Hometown: West Palm Beach, Fla.
Education: Associate of Arts - Palm Beach Community College, 1987
Bachelor of Science - Physical Education, University of North Florida, 1989
Coaching Career:
Head Coach, Palm Beach Post 12 in American Legion, 1990-95
Head Coach, Palm Lakes High School, 1990-98
Assistant Coach, Wellington High School, 1999-2000
Assistant Coach, University of Florida, 2008-present
Professional Baseball Experience:
Associate Professional Scout, Cincinnati Reds, 1993-2000
Supervising Area Scout, Seattle Mariners, 2000-07
Playing Career:
Palm Beach Community College, 1986-87
University of North Florida, 1988-89
