University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt’s Mike Bell Receives New Contract Through 2027
8/17/2022 4:00:00 PM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH - University of Pittsburgh baseball head coach Mike Bell signed a new contract that will ensure his leadership of the Panthers through at least the 2027 season, Director of Athletics Heather Lyke announced today.
"We are thrilled to extend Coach Bell's contract and have him continue to lead our baseball program," Lyke said. "The trajectory of the baseball program is a tribute to he and his staff's expertise in recruiting, developing and preparing our team to compete in the ACC, as well as the quality of student-athletes he has recruited to Pitt."
Named the fifth head coach in Pitt baseball history in July of 2018, Bell has guided the Panthers to 83 victories over his four seasons as head coach. Pitt has tallied four all-region honorees, nine All-ACC selections and five MLB Draft picks during the Bell era.
"Pitt is where my family and I want to be, and we couldn't be happier to be in Pittsburgh for years to come," Bell said. "Thanks to Chancellor Gallagher, Heather Lyke and her executive staff for their continued support, belief and confidence in our program's continued growth on the baseball diamond, and, more importantly, our quest to compete for championships. Finally, I would like to thank my staff, support staff and all the student-athletes over the last four years that have poured endless hours into our program's efforts to achieve Pitt's Golden Standard."
Pitt continued the program's ascension under Bell in 2022, posting a winning record with 29 victories, which tied for the program's most since joining the conference in 2014. The Panthers recorded five ACC series victories, including triumphs over a pair of top-five ranked squads (Louisville and Clemson). The Panthers qualified for the ACC Tournament for the second year in a row and just the third time since joining the league. Pitt advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2018 as the No. 11 seed, logging wins over No. 7-seeded Georgia Tech and No. 2-seeded Louisville. The Panthers ended the regular season with an RPI ranking of 69, the 37th-toughest strength of schedule, 12 wins against quadrant one teams and 10 wins against the NCAA Tournament field.
Starting pitchers Matt Gilbertson (second-team) and Billy Corcoran (third-team) were named All-ACC selections, becoming the first tandem of Panther pitchers to earn All-ACC honors in the same season. Gilbertson was also named to the 2022 ABCA/Rawlings East All-Region Second Team after posting a team-best 9-3 record and leading the team in ERA (3.74), WHIP (1.17), starts (15), innings pitched (96.1) and strikeouts (88). Corcoran signed as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks after ranking among the ACC leaders in fewest walks allowed (1st - 8), innings pitched (8th - 85.1) and wins (T-8th - 7). He also tied for third in NCAA in walks allowed per nine innings (0.84) and fifth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.62).
Catcher Tatem Levins was selected in the eighth round (No. 246) of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners, becoming Pitt's highest draft pick since 2018 and the 94th draft selection Bell has worked with during his coaching career. Levins started all 56 games for the Panthers, leading the squad in batting average (.321), slugging percentage (.613), OPS (1.048), hits (68), extra base hits (27), home runs (16) and total bases (130). Right-handed pitcher Baron Stuart was also signed by the New York Yankees as an undrafted free agent. He appeared in a team-high 27 games out of the bullpen and logging a team-high seven saves for the Panthers, which ranked fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference and tied for the fourth-most in a single season in program history.
The 2021 campaign saw Bell direct Pitt to its most successful season in the ACC. The Panthers set program records for their highest ranking in the polls (No. 14 by Baseball America), consecutive weeks in the polls (nine), RPI (50) and strength of schedule (30). In ACC play, Pitt set program-bests in ACC series wins (six) and ACC victories (16). The Panthers went 18-12 against teams that made the NCAA Regionals, tied for the second-best record against such opponents in the nation. The Panthers won 17 times against quadrant one teams and became just the second team to sweep Florida State and Miami in the same season.
With Bell serving as the pitching coach for the first time since becoming head coach of the Panthers, Mitch Myers was selected in the 12th round of the MLB Draft with the No. 368 pick by the Oakland Athletics. Myers was one of a program-best four Panthers selected to the All-ACC Third Team, joining Sky Duff, Nico Popa and David Yanni. Duff earned a selection to the ABCA/Rawlings All-East Region Second Team. A member of the 2019 second team, Popa became the first Panther to earn All-ACC honors twice. The all-time leader in program history in games played, starts and walks, Yanni had his best season as a Panther in 2021.
In 2020, Bell guided Pitt to a 10-6 record before the season was cut short due to COVID-19. Revamping the roster with 21 newcomers, Bell led the Panthers to a 10-1 start to the year, tied for the second-best start through 11 games in program history. Pitt's offense played a huge part, ranking in the nation second in doubles per game (2.88), 37th in slugging percentage (.447) and 38th in scoring (7.3 runs per game).
Bell joined Pitt after a seven-year stint as the associate head coach and pitching coach at Florida State. Since 2005, Bell has helped lead three teams to four College World Series appearances – Tennessee (2005), Oklahoma (2010) and Florida State (2012, '17). He has coached nine first round draft picks, 35 top-10 round picks and 19 Major Leaguers. In 2012, he was named the Perfect Game Assistant Coach of the Year and was named the No. 13 recruiter in the country by D1Baseball.com prior to the 2017 season. In all, Ben has helped put together 12 top-25 recruiting classes.
Beyond his NCAA Division I experience, Bell spent two seasons as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Division II perennial power Florida Southern, where the Mocs twice finished in the top 20 nationally in ERA. He launched his coaching career in 2002 at Brandon High, where he led the team to a district title and a regional runner-up finish as the head coach, earning Hillsborough County Coach of the Year honors.
A left-handed pitcher and first baseman for the Seminoles, Bell reached the College World Series as a player in both 1994 and 1995. Bell posted a two-year record of 14-4 with a 3.00 ERA and was twice named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll. He earned a bachelor's degree in physical education at Florida State in 1996 and previously spent two seasons as a pitcher at Hernando Community College, where he was a two-time All-Suncoast Conference selection.
Selected in the 20th round of the 1995 draft by the Montreal Expos, Bell spent six years in the minors, including the final three with the Baltimore Orioles' organization where he reached the Double-A level.
Bell is married to the former Alicia Favarato, a Florida State graduate, and the couple has two children, daughter, Alexis, and son, Kyler.
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"We are thrilled to extend Coach Bell's contract and have him continue to lead our baseball program," Lyke said. "The trajectory of the baseball program is a tribute to he and his staff's expertise in recruiting, developing and preparing our team to compete in the ACC, as well as the quality of student-athletes he has recruited to Pitt."
Named the fifth head coach in Pitt baseball history in July of 2018, Bell has guided the Panthers to 83 victories over his four seasons as head coach. Pitt has tallied four all-region honorees, nine All-ACC selections and five MLB Draft picks during the Bell era.
"Pitt is where my family and I want to be, and we couldn't be happier to be in Pittsburgh for years to come," Bell said. "Thanks to Chancellor Gallagher, Heather Lyke and her executive staff for their continued support, belief and confidence in our program's continued growth on the baseball diamond, and, more importantly, our quest to compete for championships. Finally, I would like to thank my staff, support staff and all the student-athletes over the last four years that have poured endless hours into our program's efforts to achieve Pitt's Golden Standard."
Pitt continued the program's ascension under Bell in 2022, posting a winning record with 29 victories, which tied for the program's most since joining the conference in 2014. The Panthers recorded five ACC series victories, including triumphs over a pair of top-five ranked squads (Louisville and Clemson). The Panthers qualified for the ACC Tournament for the second year in a row and just the third time since joining the league. Pitt advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2018 as the No. 11 seed, logging wins over No. 7-seeded Georgia Tech and No. 2-seeded Louisville. The Panthers ended the regular season with an RPI ranking of 69, the 37th-toughest strength of schedule, 12 wins against quadrant one teams and 10 wins against the NCAA Tournament field.
Starting pitchers Matt Gilbertson (second-team) and Billy Corcoran (third-team) were named All-ACC selections, becoming the first tandem of Panther pitchers to earn All-ACC honors in the same season. Gilbertson was also named to the 2022 ABCA/Rawlings East All-Region Second Team after posting a team-best 9-3 record and leading the team in ERA (3.74), WHIP (1.17), starts (15), innings pitched (96.1) and strikeouts (88). Corcoran signed as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks after ranking among the ACC leaders in fewest walks allowed (1st - 8), innings pitched (8th - 85.1) and wins (T-8th - 7). He also tied for third in NCAA in walks allowed per nine innings (0.84) and fifth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.62).
Catcher Tatem Levins was selected in the eighth round (No. 246) of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners, becoming Pitt's highest draft pick since 2018 and the 94th draft selection Bell has worked with during his coaching career. Levins started all 56 games for the Panthers, leading the squad in batting average (.321), slugging percentage (.613), OPS (1.048), hits (68), extra base hits (27), home runs (16) and total bases (130). Right-handed pitcher Baron Stuart was also signed by the New York Yankees as an undrafted free agent. He appeared in a team-high 27 games out of the bullpen and logging a team-high seven saves for the Panthers, which ranked fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference and tied for the fourth-most in a single season in program history.
The 2021 campaign saw Bell direct Pitt to its most successful season in the ACC. The Panthers set program records for their highest ranking in the polls (No. 14 by Baseball America), consecutive weeks in the polls (nine), RPI (50) and strength of schedule (30). In ACC play, Pitt set program-bests in ACC series wins (six) and ACC victories (16). The Panthers went 18-12 against teams that made the NCAA Regionals, tied for the second-best record against such opponents in the nation. The Panthers won 17 times against quadrant one teams and became just the second team to sweep Florida State and Miami in the same season.
With Bell serving as the pitching coach for the first time since becoming head coach of the Panthers, Mitch Myers was selected in the 12th round of the MLB Draft with the No. 368 pick by the Oakland Athletics. Myers was one of a program-best four Panthers selected to the All-ACC Third Team, joining Sky Duff, Nico Popa and David Yanni. Duff earned a selection to the ABCA/Rawlings All-East Region Second Team. A member of the 2019 second team, Popa became the first Panther to earn All-ACC honors twice. The all-time leader in program history in games played, starts and walks, Yanni had his best season as a Panther in 2021.
In 2020, Bell guided Pitt to a 10-6 record before the season was cut short due to COVID-19. Revamping the roster with 21 newcomers, Bell led the Panthers to a 10-1 start to the year, tied for the second-best start through 11 games in program history. Pitt's offense played a huge part, ranking in the nation second in doubles per game (2.88), 37th in slugging percentage (.447) and 38th in scoring (7.3 runs per game).
Bell joined Pitt after a seven-year stint as the associate head coach and pitching coach at Florida State. Since 2005, Bell has helped lead three teams to four College World Series appearances – Tennessee (2005), Oklahoma (2010) and Florida State (2012, '17). He has coached nine first round draft picks, 35 top-10 round picks and 19 Major Leaguers. In 2012, he was named the Perfect Game Assistant Coach of the Year and was named the No. 13 recruiter in the country by D1Baseball.com prior to the 2017 season. In all, Ben has helped put together 12 top-25 recruiting classes.
Beyond his NCAA Division I experience, Bell spent two seasons as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Division II perennial power Florida Southern, where the Mocs twice finished in the top 20 nationally in ERA. He launched his coaching career in 2002 at Brandon High, where he led the team to a district title and a regional runner-up finish as the head coach, earning Hillsborough County Coach of the Year honors.
A left-handed pitcher and first baseman for the Seminoles, Bell reached the College World Series as a player in both 1994 and 1995. Bell posted a two-year record of 14-4 with a 3.00 ERA and was twice named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll. He earned a bachelor's degree in physical education at Florida State in 1996 and previously spent two seasons as a pitcher at Hernando Community College, where he was a two-time All-Suncoast Conference selection.
Selected in the 20th round of the 1995 draft by the Montreal Expos, Bell spent six years in the minors, including the final three with the Baltimore Orioles' organization where he reached the Double-A level.
Bell is married to the former Alicia Favarato, a Florida State graduate, and the couple has two children, daughter, Alexis, and son, Kyler.
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