BELPRE — A football standout from Ohio State was named Thursday as the new head football coach at Belpre High School.

The Board of Education unanimously approved Jimmie Bell III of Youngstown during a special meeting Thursday morning.

Bell was a star at Ursuline High School and played at Ohio State under coach John Cooper. He was on the 1997 Rose Bowl championship team and on two Big 10 championship teams during his tenure at Ohio State.

After spending a couple of seasons in the NFL and NFL Europe, Bell started a new career as a life coach, author, speaker and consultant.

Being involved with the community for the last 2 1/2 years, Bell said when first visiting Belpre that the town made him feel something in his soul and that he is humbled to be named the head coach of the Golden Eagles.

“I do believe that I can be that V-12 shot to help uplift the community. Belpre has some really interesting, rich and powerful history. Being from Youngstown, I can understand how sometimes that history can go the wayside if you forget about it,” Bell said. “But also know being from Youngstown, that you can shoot some energy into the arms of the community and the community can be something that people thought that it could be again. So, I’m extremely excited, I’m super humbled to God to be here and I’m excited to get work going.”

Bell succeeds Lance Binegar, who coached for one season.

“We would like to thank coach Binegar, the wonderful work that he did last season and serving as head coach, said Supt. Jeff Greenley, who recommended Bell for the position. “It was on short notice, it was a difficult year and we are very grateful to him. On behalf of the board and our student-athletes, we express our appreciation to him for his hard work last year.

“Jimmie has inspired the youth across the state of Ohio and all over the Mid-Ohio Valley. Although large in stature, somehow his heart and love for kids is even larger.”