Cheryl Bell Returns To Take Charge Of The Lady Owls Basketball Team!

Cheryl Bell returns for her 7^th season as the Head Coach of the Union County College Women’s Basketball Program. Over the past 6 seasons, she has compiled a 97-51 record with the Lady Owls. During her tenure, the team has captured 4 Garden State Athletic Conference (GSAC)  titles, 3 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIX titles, and advanced to the NJCAA District playoffs (the initial round of the National Tournament) 3 years in a row.

In 2009, the Lady Owls finished 27-0 in the regular season. This marks the first time in school history the women’s basketball program went undefeated.

In 2008, the Lady Owls finished 24-8 over-all, 14-2 in the Region & 8-2 in the Conference. Three players earned All-Region 2^nd Team honors and All-Conference honors as well.

Prior to joining Union County College, Coach Bell was an assistant coach at Caldwell College for 3 years during which time; she helped to lead the Lady Cougars to the NAIA, Division II, National Tournament in 2002 and CACC Conference Title in 2003. Before Caldwell, Coach Bell was also the assistant for Union County College, her alma mater, from 1994-1999. As an assistant at Union County College, Coach Bell scouted, recruited and developed guard and point players. She helped develop the lifting & conditioning program and was instrumental in defensive game tactics. During her years as an assistant at Union, the Lady Owls garnered 3 Garden State Athletic Conference Titles, 2 Region XIX Titles, 2 District Titles, and 2 NJCAA, Division II, Tournament appearances.

As a player and co-captain of the 1989-1990 teams at Union County College, Coach Bell was the 2^nd leader in steals with 3 steals a game and averaged 12 ppg. She was also nominated to the 1^st team All-Garden State Athletic Conference and 2^nd Team All Region XIX in 1990. Coach Bell prides her self on “defense” so much so, that during her 2 years at Union the team was ranked 4th in the Nation for defense. Coach Bell transferred and continued her defensive philosophy at William Paterson University where she held the record of 97 steals in one single season. This record for most steals in one season was held for 10 years.

Coach Bell is a graduate of William Paterson University where she earned a degree in Psychology. She has also earned her M.A. in Physical Education with a concentration in Coaching and Sports Administration from Montclair State University. Along with her coaching duties, Coach Bell is a Health & Physical Education Teacher at Science High School in Newark, New Jersey.