Monmouth College football head coach Steve Bell has left his post at Monmouth for the same position at nearby Augustana College. Bell compiled a 113-44 (.719) record in 15 years with the Fighting Scots, his first stint as a head coach.

      "I'm very appreciative of the opportunity Monmouth gave me as a young coach," said Bell. "I was younger than most coaches when they get their first head coaching job and I feel extremely fortunate that Monmouth let me cut my teeth as a head coach. It was a tough decision to leave Monmouth, but I'll always remember how the administration and players welcomed me with open arms."

      The Fighting Scots won four Midwest Conference titles under Bell and twice advanced to the second round of the NCAA playoffs.

      "We certainly are sorry to lose Steve Bell as our head football coach. Steve has led a successful football program not only in terms of wins but also in terms of the young men he recruited to the college and the lives he has helped shape. We congratulate Steve on this new opportunity and are gratified by this affirmation of the fact that Monmouth College is a place where others seek talent," said Monmouth College President Clarence Wyatt.

      "Coach Bell brought a commitment to excellence with him," added MC athletic director Roger Haynes. "We appreciate what he has done for Monmouth and wish him and his family the best."

      Monmouth is a four-year liberal arts institution in western Illinois with an enrollment of more than 1,300. The college offers 35 majors and 31 minor fields of study and was recently named a top 15 school by Money Magazine.