Bells Announce 2023 Coaching Staff

The Bells are excited to announce the 2023 coaching staff, four of whom will return from previous seasons.

Head Coach Jim Clem will return for his eleventh season with the Bells, his first as head coach. Clem spent 10 seasons with the Bells, serving as the team’s pitching coach and recruiting coordinator from 2011 – 2021 before stepping away to take the 2022 season off to spend more time with family. Clem has long been a head coach at many levels, and has been named to multiple Hall of Fames, including the Central Washington Athletics Hall of Fame and the WIAA Hall of Fame.

“It goes without saying how excited we are to have Jim at the helm of this team,” Bells general manager Stephanie Morrell said. “He is a highly principled individual who brings leadership, confidence and vast experience to our clubhouse.”

Veteran pitching coach Carlos Arroyo returns for his second season with the Bells. Arroyo recently retired from an almost 40-year coaching career within the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system. During his career, Arroyo worked at almost every level of the Phillies MILB system, including stints as Pitching Coordinator, Rehab Coordinator and Roving Pitching Coach.

“Carlos was an amazing addition to the Bells during the 2022 season,” Morrell said. “He brings great perspective to our players for what it takes to get to the professional level, and he’s very committed to helping our players improve and grow as players and as individuals. We are very lucky to have Carlos returning for 2023.”

David Higuera will return for his third season with the Bells, in the role of Assistant Coach – Offensive Strategy Coordinator. In this role, he will work with infielders and outfielders, assist with the offense, coach third base, and assist with baseball analytics. Higuera is currently an assistant coach at Claremont McKenna College.

“I am thrilled to have David returning in an increased capacity,” Morrell said. “He is a skilled teacher of the game and committed to helping athletes develop.”

Cody Anderson will also return for his second season with the Bells where he will fill the role of Associate Pitching Coach and Baseball Analytics Coordinator, working closely with Bells pitching coach Carlos Arroyo. Anderson pitched for the Bells in 2015, as part of a collegiate career that included time at Bellevue College and Washington State University. Anderson is currently an assistant coach at Bellevue College.

“Cody is a talented young coach,” Morrell said. “He and Carlos are a fantastic team. Furthermore, Cody’s knowledge and ability to explore baseball analytics with our athletes and help them grasp understanding of their game at an analytical level is really valuable to our players.”

Rounding out the staff will be a new addition, Josh Robbins. Robbins, who is originally from Medford, Ore., was part of the Bells during the 2019 season. Robbins played collegiately at Umpqua Community College and Eastern Oregon University. He is currently serving as an assistant coach/catching coach for Umpqua Community College alongside former Bells assistant coach Jake Whisler.

“We were so thrilled to be able to add Josh to our coaching staff this year,” Morrell said. “He checks all the boxes and beyond his experience and qualifications, he understands the Bells culture and what it means to be part of it. It’s very exciting to have Josh coming home to the Bells to start his summer collegiate baseball coaching career.”

Assistant Coach Haydan Hastings, who served as interim head coach for the 2022 season and led the Bells to North Division Championship and the 2022 WCL Title Game, will not return to the Bells for the 2023 season as he focuses on personal and professional commitments.

“I can’t thank Haydan enough for the tremendous job he did leading our team in the second half of the 2022 season,” Morrell said. “He is a fantastic young coach and will forever be part of our Bells family. We wish him all the best as he takes a year away from summer baseball to focus on commitments elsewhere.”

About the Bellingham Bells:

The Bellingham Bells are a summer, wood bat, collegiate baseball team that plays in the West Coast League (www.westcoastleague.com).  The Bells play their home games at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham and their field staff includes Jim Clem (Head Coach), Carlos Arroyo (Pitching Coach), Cody Anderson (Associate Pitching Coach & Baseball Analytics Coordinator), David Higuera (Assistant Coach – Offensive Strategy Coordinator) and Josh Robbins (Assistant Coach/Catching) Former Bells players who are currently in Major League Baseball include Seth Martinez (Houston Astros), Michael Rucker (Chicago Cubs), Kyle Stowers (Baltimore Orioles) and Spencer Howard (Texas Rangers).

Contact:
Bellingham Bells (www.bellinghambells.com)

Stephanie Morrell

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (360) 746-0409