Former Canon-McMillan, Peters Township boys basketball coach Rick Bell joins Duquesne women’s staff
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Rick Bell’s resume is difficult to ignore.
Along with his 31 years as head boys basketball coach at Canon-McMillan (18 years) and Peters Township (13), Bell was an assistant coach in the 1996 McDonalds All-American Boys Game at the former Civic Arena where his players included Kobe Bryant and four others who matriculated to the NBA.
When Duquesne women’s coach Dan Burt needed an assistant, he hired Bell. The university made the announcement Tuesday morning.
“He is no stranger to our team after attending numerous practices over the last couple of years,” Burt said in a statement released by the school. “Coach Bell’s strong X’s-and-O’s knowledge base, outstanding relationships with numerous local coaches, and player development skill set will make our program better.
“A man of the highest ethics and integrity, we believe that we have hit a home run with this hire and we can’t wait to get the season started.”
“I am so honored to be a part of Duquesne, one of the nation’s top Catholic universities,” Bell said in a statement. “I am equally honored to be a part of the women’s basketball program and coach Burt’s staff. It is exciting to be a part of a program and staff that has been the winningest Division I basketball program in Pittsburgh during coach Burt’s tenure.”
Bell spent the past two seasons helping the Geneva College men. His son, R.J., is a member of the team. He coached Canon-McMillan through 2019 and led the Big Macs to the school’s first appearance in the WPIAL semifinals that year. Canon-McMillan set a school record with 21 victories in 2017-18.
Overall, he led Canon-McMillan to the WPIAL playoffs six times while winning 428 games. At Peters Township, Bell’s teams reached the postseason 11 times.