Sam Bell, the former Oregon State track and field and cross country coach who led the Beavers to the 1961 cross country national championship, died Monday morning at the age of 88.
Bell was inducted into OSU's Hall of Fame in 2006. The Beavers' 1961 title was the first team championship in school history. Additionally, Bell coached five individual NCAA champions in track and field, guided OSU to a pair of top-10 finishes at the NCAAs and had three athletes compete in the Olympics. His 1963 4x880 relay team also set a world record in the California Relays.