“Doc” Bell hopes to succeed as former coach Chuck Koeppen’s successor

By Maggie Brandenburg
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By all accounts, Tony Dungy’s replacement has some big shoes to fill. Likewise, when Bobby Knight left Indiana University, the next guy in line had to close up a huge void. And now at Carmel, there are no bigger shoes to fill than those of arguably one of the best high school cross-country coaches in Indiana history, Chuck Koeppen. New Head Coach Erhard “Doc” Bell has stepped up to run a few miles in some really big trainers, and as anyone who has ever run for Koeppen or worked with him will tell you, Bell has got a few uphill runs coming up.
“It’s going to be insane (having a new coach), because no one coaches like Koeppen does and we’re all so used to Koeppen and we all just like how he runs things,” said runner and senior Dan Porter.
According to Athletics Director Jim Inskeep, the process for finding Koeppen’s replacement began with applicants submitting forms. They were then critiqued on their experience and dedication to continuing the excellence that Koeppen began. Inskeep said Bell was chosen based on his experience with the team and its traditions, as well as his passion for cross-country.
“Doc Bell has proven himself to be highly knowledgeable in different aspects of training and racing.  He is a good communicator and has been a dedicated member of the CHS coaching staff.  This experience was key in his selection,” Inskeep said via e-mail.
While Porter was part of one of the last classes to be coached by Koeppen, freshman Ryan Arnett will be a part of the first group to be coached entirely by Bell. For many, not getting to run for the famed coach might be disappointing, but Arnett said he is taking it all in stride.
“I didn’t really know Coach Koeppen that well. I mean, it’s just running, it doesn’t really matter who’s coaching,” Arnett said.
For this year’s season, Bell said plans to carry on business as usual for the Greyhounds with their main goal of winning a second consecutive State championship. Bell said he is also continuing one of his long-standing traditions of getting every runner on the team a personal record during the season.
But only time will tell how the new coach will stack up to Koeppen. For now, Bell said he is going to strap on those big shoes and hit the trail running.
Bell said, “I have a very simple phrase that I like to use. I say that ‘fun, in addition to excellence, leads to success,’ So I stress to every kid, you know, I want this to be enjoyable; it’s got to be fun to do this.”