Of the 150 applicants, 12 in person or phone interviews and three on campus visits, the Augustana football program has found a new coach.
Steve Bell hopes to continue and further instill a family-like aspect within his newly-found football program.
“The most exciting thing is the opportunity to work with the athletes, not only on the field, but in developing the family like atmosphere that we are going to bring, which is already here, and not far off from what I think is the right way to do things,” said Bell.
Bell was announced as the Vikings’ head coach on Jan. 9, leaving behind an overall record of 112-44 as former head coach at Monmouth.
Athletic Director, Mike Zapolski, said that Bell was the right choice for the position because he fulfilled the three qualities that the program was looking to satisfy.  Those aspects included: a proven track record as a head coach, familiarity with division three athletics and knowledge of recruiting.
“I think that when it was all said and done, Bell has done a really nice job over the course of his last 15 years at Monmouth with competing at a high level, and the fact that he had the experience at a school like Augustana was a big factor that lead to his hiring,” said Zapolski.
Over the last fifteen years at Monmouth, Bell helped the Scots to win four Midwest Conference championships. With his accolades, Bell filled the three categories that Zapolski and his team were looking for, but there was one characteristic that stood out from the rest.
“The one thing that was crystalized for me during the interview process was that the family atmosphere is important to Bell and will be a huge focus for us,” said Zapolski. “I think this will be an important part to the Augustana football culture as we move forward under his leadership, and it will be neat to see this aspect evolve heading into the 2015 football season.”
With a focus on family, Bell defines this process as one where you know when you see it, and you know it when you feel it.
“To me, a family atmosphere is when everybody is pulling in the same direction, no matter what happens,” said Bell. “When there is adversity, some teams splinter, but the really good families stay together.”
Bell also hopes to further value the importance of brotherhood between his players to ensure a unified family.
“The brotherhood does not break with graduation or adversity, and so that to me is something that everyone wants, but truly very few are willing to invest in it all the time,” said Bell. “You know you have it if the athletes keep in contact after graduating, and come back to campus because they were so prideful in what they had here.”
With both Bell and Zapolski valuing the idea of further creating a family like atmosphere for the team, this idea has also been introduced to the players, one being sophomore running back Brandon Price.
“We truly are one big family, and I think that’s a great way to run a football team,” said Price. “I am with my brothers from the time we start camp until the end of the year, and with coach being a father figure in our lives,  that means we can trust him.”