Concordia men's basketball assistant coach Justin Williams-Bell is returning to his alma mater as an assistant with the UC Riverside men's basketball program for the 2012-13 season.  He graduated from UC Riverside in 2007 and earned his Master's in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia in 2012.

"I'm thrilled to have Justin return to UC Riverside and the Highlanders Basketball program," said UCR head coach Jim Wooldridge. "He had a tremendous impact at UCR as a student-athlete and is considered a rising start in the coaching profession."

Bell returns to the Inland Empire after most recently serving as the lead assistant coach for the men's basketball team at CU. In two seasons with the Eagles, Bell helped the squad to a 63-11 overall record which included an NAIA National Championship in 2011-12 and back-to-back GSAC Championships.

"I take a lot of pride in having graduated from UC Riverside, and it is a blessing to be able to return to my alma matter as a member of the men's basketball coaching staff," said Bell. "Coach Wooldridge has given me a wonderful opportunity, and I look forward to helping the program continue to move in the right direction."

After graduating from UC Riverside with a degree in education, Bell joined the NBA's Golden State Warriors as the team's youth basketball assistant directing basketball camp and clinics throughout the Bay Area. He also served as the assistant boy's basketball coach at De La Salle High School from 2008-10.

"Concordia is a great place and I enjoyed every bit of my time at the university," Bell said.  "Coach (Ken) Ammann is a great coach, and even a better person.  Coach Ammann provided me with a wonderful opportunity to coach at one of the top collegiate basketball programs in the country at any level.  I am forever grateful for the opportunity I was given."

As a collegian, Bell played two years at Saddleback College before joining the Highlanders as a junior for the 2004-05 season. He appeared in 27 games that year as a reserve finishing second on the squad in assists (70). After scoring 14 points in UC Riverside's exhibition opener of the 2005-06 campaign, Bell underwent reconstructive knee surgery and was lost for the season.

"I am very happy for Justin.  He did a great job here and I am very happy to see him have the opportunity to return to his alma mater," CU head coach Ken Ammann said.  "I am very proud of the job he did here and am happy to see him rewarded.  UC Riverside not only hired a tremendously talented and hardworking coach, but a person of extremely high character."

The Escondido, CA native returned better than ever the following year starting 30 games as team captain while leading the team in minutes played (1,024), three-point field goals (70) and assists (128); and finishing third in scoring (10.2). Bell's 70 made three-pointers established the program's Division I era benchmark, and on January 10, 2007, he handed out a Division I-era record 12 assists at San Diego.

Bell at UC Riverside (Photo/Quote courtesy of UC Riverside)

The Concordia Eagles are currently running their summer youth camps on campus and will begin their 2012-2013 season in November.