Leon football will be coached by a familiar face next season as Ricky Bell returns to the program as its new head football coach.
Bell, 70, served as the Leon County Athletic Director from 2002 to 2020 after a legendary coaching career in the Big Bend. During his time on the high school sidelines, he was either the head coach or a coordinator for Leon, Lincoln, Rickards, and James S. Shanks High School.
He is a member of the Leon, Rickards, Florida Athletic Coaches and Tallahassee State College Hall of Fame. He received a gubernatorial appointment to serve on the Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors in 2023.
He also briefly served as the offensive coordinator for the Tallahassee Thunder, the city’s arena football team.
Bell has worked in education for 43 years, starting his career in Wakulla County. He replaces William Mosley as the Lions head coach.
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Leon went 1-9 last season.
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney