Jon Bell, who has been at the helm of the Billikens' cross country and track and field programs for more than a decade, has built the Saint Louis program into one that is succeeding at the regional, conference and national levels.
Bell was named head coach of both the cross country and track and field programs in 2008. The track and field program was formed just a year prior to his arrival, and he continues to guide the program to high levels of success.Â
In recent years, Bell has guided the program to new heights with the program’s first NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship qualifiers. Toby Gillen qualified for the 2023 NCAA final in the men’s 1,500 meters, while Samantha Kunza qualified for the finals in the hammer throw at the 2024 NCAA Championships. Both earned All-America status, firsts in program history.
Bell has coached some of the most decorated Billiken student-athletes in school history during his time at SLU, including three student-athletes who were recently inducted into the Billiken of Fame. Brittney Cloudy won a program-record eight gold medals during her career as a jumper at SLU. She was named A-10 Field Performer of the Year during the 2012 indoor and outdoor track and field campaigns. Margo Richardson won four gold medals on the track and was a four-time All-Conference selection in cross country during her illustrious career from 2010-13. Dahmar Smiles was a two-time gold medalist in the 110-meter hurdles in 2010 and 2011.
In all, the Billikens have won 14 conference titles in men’s track and field during Bell’s tenure. On the women’s side, SLU has claimed 21 conference titles under Bell’s guidance.
Saint Louis has a long history of Billikens qualifying for the first rounds of the NCAA Championships under Bell’s tutelage. SLU has qualified in 39 events total, with at least one student-athlete advancing to the NCAA Championships 14 times in 19 seasons in program history.Â
In cross country, 2019 graduate Manuel de Backer became the first Billiken to capture an Atlantic 10 Conference individual cross country title when he finished first at the 2017 A-10 Championships. He also earned nine conference medals during his track and field career.Â
In addition to recognition on the track and course, Bell also stresses achievement in the classroom. The Saint Louis University men’s and women’s track and field squads are regular Track and Field NCAA Division I Academic Team Award winners.
Bell was named interim head coach of the Billikens in August of 2007 and was officially named head coach the following summer in 2008.
Bell joined the Billikens as a volunteer assistant coach prior to the 2007 track and field seasons after spending one year as an assistant track and field coach at Utah Valley State. At UVSU, he was a recruiting coordinator for the NCAA Division I institution and assisted in all facets of the program. Bell worked with four student-athletes who broke school records, and one who claimed an NCAA Independent championship.
Bell was a graduate assistant coach at Emporia State (Kan.) University from 2003 to 2005. He coached two NCAA Division II All-American long jumpers and sent 10 student-athletes to the NCAA Division II National Championships. Bell began his coaching career at his alma mater, St. Mary's (Minn.) University, in 2002. He also served as head girls' track and field coach at Winona High School in 2003.
After graduating from St. Mary's with a bachelor's degree in 2002, he went on to earn a master's in health, physical education and recreation from Emporia State in 2005.
Bell is a noted endurance cyclist. In the summer of 2021, he completed the Trans Am Bike Race (TABR), a 4,200-mile, self-supported bike race following the TransAmerican Bicycle Trail from Astoria, Oregon, to Yorktown, Virginia.
