St. Thomas University Bobcats

Dr. Jan Bell, Faculty Athletics Representative and longtime Director of Sports Administration Programs at St. Thomas University, became the10th inductee into the Bobcat Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.  The induction came in advance of Dr. Bell's retirement as Professor of Sports Administration after tenure of 30 years at St. Thomas University
 
Since 1997, Dr. Bell has served as the NAIA Faculty Athletics Representative for the St. Thomas University Department of Athletics.  In her role as FAR, she has served as STU's faculty voice ensuring balance between academics and athletics for the benefit of the student-athlete.  Her responsibilities as FAR include, but are not limited to: student-athlete eligibility, academic integrity, compliance with NAIA rules and student-athlete advisement while also serving as the liaison between the Department of Athletics and faculty.
 
In her 18 years as FAR, Dr. Bell has overseen the eligibility and academic performance of roughly 4,500 student-athletes at St. Thomas. Academically, student-athletes at St. Thomas University have excelled under Dr. Bell's watch.  Most recently, Bobcat student-athletes had an overall grade point average of 3.10 for the Spring, 2014 semester marking the highest overall GPA since 2003 and the fourth straight semester with an overall GPA of over 3.00.

As Director of Sports Administration, Dr. Bell has guided both undergraduate and graduate students, many of whom were also student-athletes, into careers in the competitive sports industry.  Approximately over 1,400 graduates of the St. Thomas Sports Administration program currently work in the industry worldwide.  Notable alumni of the St. Thomas University Sports Administration program who studied under Dr. Bell include:
 

• Andy Elisburg (B.A., '89), Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations/General Manager, Miami Heat
• Dave Gettleman (M.S., '86), General Manager, Carolina Panthers
• Michael Kelly (M.S., '94), Chief Operating Officer, College Football Playoff
• Blake James (M.S., '94), Director of Athletics, University of Miami
• Dr. Larry Teis (M.S., '90), Director of Athletics, Texas State University
• Bill Chaves (B.A., '88), Director of Athletics, Eastern Washington University
• Todd Reeser (M.S., '86), Director of Athletics, Columbus State University
• Michael Mominey (M.S., '94), Director of Athletics, Nova Southeastern University
• Dr. John Hayek (M.S., '94),  Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff for Academic Affairs, The University of Texas System
• Mark McCullers (M.S., '89), President, Columbus Crew
• Jeff Craney (B.A., '87), Vice President of Marketing, Miami Heat
• Sean Flynn (M.S., '96), Vice President of Marketing, Miami Marlins
• Brian Babin (B.A., '91), Vice President/Assistant General Manager, American Airlines Arena
• Mitch Morrall (M.S., '94), Vice President of Operations/Special Projects, Orange Bowl Committee
• Bryan Moynihan (M.S., '92), Vice President of Ticket Sales/Services, Valero Alamo Bowl
• Connie Yori (M.S., '90), Head Women's Basketball Coach, University of Nebraska
• Robin Harmony (M.S., '09), Head Women's Basketball Coach, Lamar University
• Robert Agramonte (B.A., '90), Senior Vice President, Learfield Sports
• Steve Sullivan (M.S., '90), General Manager, Learfield Sports (Oregon State University)
• Scott MacKenzie (M.S., '97), Regional Vice President, IMG College properties
• Danny Katz (M.S., '93), Owner, Complete Ticket Solutions
• Ivan Marin (B.A., '95), Owner, Complete Ticket Solutions

Several of Dr. Bell's former students are currently staff members at STU's Department of Athletics including Director of Athletics Laura Courtley-Todd (M.S., '95), Head Women's Soccer Coach Michelle Smith (B.A., '00), Head Men'sSoccer Coach Felix Mats (M.S., '04), Sports Information Director Philip de Montmollin (M.S., '96) as well as several Bobcat assistant coaches.  Courtley-Todd and Smith are past inductees of the Bobcat Sports Hall of Fame.
 

Another of her former students, Dr. Ted Abernethy (M.S., '92), has been a Professor at St. Thomas since 1995 and recently succeeded Dr. Bell as the Director of Sports Administration Programs.
 
Dr. Bell began her career in 1985 at St. Thomas University as an Instructor for STU's Sports Administration program, one of the world's first and most renowned programs of its type.  In 1989, she was promoted to Assistant Professor, then to Associate Professor in 1991.  From 1996 to present, she has held the position of Professor of Sports Administration teaching both Undergraduate and Graduate classes.  Since 1988, she has served as Graduate Program Coordinator and eventually the Director of Sports Administration Programs.
 
Dr. Bell is a native of Federalsburg, Md.  She graduated with a B.S. from Salisbury State College and an M.S. in Education from the State University of New York at Brockport.  In 1988, she graduated from Temple University with a Doctor of Education degree in Sports Administration.