Fort Hays Tech Northwest has announced the hiring of Tyler Bell as the Tigers' next head men's and women's wrestling coach. Bell joins Tech with a proven track record of building successful athletes and programs at both the high school and collegiate levels.

"We are excited about the future of our wrestling program," commented Athletic Director Rory Kling. "Tyler being a Kansas native and having connections across the state will help bring students from the area to our teams. He has had a successful wrestling career both as an athlete and coach."

Coaching Career:

Bell began his coaching career at Fort Scott High School in Kansas, where he helped lead the Tigers to multiple postseason accomplishments. In his first season (2019–2020), Fort Scott posted a 12-7 dual record and placed 4th at the KSHSAA 4A Regional, qualifying four wrestlers for the state tournament and earning one state medalist. The following season (2020–2021), Bell was instrumental in the team's path to a 22-9 dual record and a KSHSAA 4A District Championship. That year, his team advanced through regionals and sub-state competition, ultimately finishing 4th at the KSHSAA 4A State Championships with three individual state champions and five total state qualifiers.

At York University, Bell has helped elevate the program's performance in the KCAC. Since joining the staff in 2022, he has coached multiple KCAC champions and national qualifiers. During the 2022–2023 season, he guided one conference champion and two NAIA national qualifiers. The 2023–2024 season added another KCAC champion and three national qualifiers to his resume. Most recently in 2024–2025, Bell helped lead the Panthers to an 8-2 dual record and a 3rd place team finish at the KCAC Championships, with eleven wrestlers earning podium finishes and two advancing to the NAIA National Championships. 

Personal Background:

A native of Kansas, Bell was a standout wrestler at Herrington High School, where he was a two-time state placer. He continued his career at Labette Community College, where he was a member of the 2005 NJCAA National Championship team. Bell also has a background in mixed martial arts, having competed in over 10 professional fights.

"We are looking forward to having Coach Bell on board to take this program to the next level," said President Ben Schears. "We've developed a perennial top 10 national program over the years, and now we are looking to build a stronger Kansas pipeline. Kansas has a wrestling culture and deep pools of talent, and I'm confident Coach Bell is the right guy with the character, integrity, and skill to get them."

With Bell's competitive mindset and dedication to athlete development, he is sure to make an impact at the head of FHNW's wrestling program.