Bob Miller has been named head coach of the Bellingham Bells of the West Coast League, the team announced today. Miller, the head coach of the Cuesta College baseball program in San Luis Obispo, Calif., will lead the Bells during the 2018 season.

Miller has been the head coach at Cuesta College since 2003. During his tenure, the Cuesta Cougars made the playoffs in 13 of Miller’s 15 seasons, capturing 8 conference championships in that time. Additionally, Miller and his staff have helped 64 players progress to the NCAA Division I level.

“We are thrilled to be adding Coach Miller to the Bells family,” general manager Stephanie Morrell said. “He brings phenomenal experience from the past 15 seasons he’s spent leading the Cuesta College program. He has had tremendous success developing players into the highest caliber of person and baseball player, and has shown great commitment to helping players chase their dreams of playing baseball at a high level. We couldn’t be happier to welcome Coach Miller to Bellingham.”

Miller comes to Bellingham with West Coast League experience under his belt, having managed the Victoria HarbourCats during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Miller has also managed in the Alaska League.

“I am excited for the opportunity to coach in Bellingham. The Bells are a first-class organization with passionate people and a solid foundation,” Miller said. “I am grateful to Glenn [Kirkpatrick, Bells’ owner] and Stephanie [Morrell, Bells’ general manager] for the opportunity. I look forward to working with Coach Clem and our coaching staff, in addition to our players, on a daily basis. I know Bellingham is a great baseball city and supports the Bells.”

Miller will work closely with Bells’ pitching coach and recruiting coordinator, Jim Clem, who enters his 8th season with the Bells in 2018. Miller & Clem will work together in the offseason to oversee the construction of the 2018 roster and coaching staff.

Bob replaces Greg Goetz, who managed the Bells to a 31-23 record in 2017. Goetz recently accepted a full-time assistant coaching position at the Division I level, making him ineligible to coach the Bells during the 2018 season.

“We are grateful to Coach Goetz for the commitment and leadership he brought to the Bells during the 2017 season,” Morrell said. “Greg led the Bells with integrity and purpose, we are thankful to have him as part of our Bells family.”

ABOUT THE WEST COAST LEAGUE

The West Coast League (WCL) is the premier summer collegiate baseball league west of the Mississippi. The 13-year-old, 11-team, professionally operated wood-bat league located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest showcases pro prospects from major conferences across the nation June through August. Out west, the league features an unparalleled history of memorable fan and player experiences and the best summer weather in North America. 83 players with WCL experience were selected in the MLB 2017 June draft. 270 WCL alums appeared or were active in affiliated professional baseball in 2017 including 31 in the major leagues, such as 2015 home-run leader Chris Davis (Baltimore); record-breaking slugger Rhys Hoskins (Philadelphia); rising star pitchers James Paxton (Seattle) and Matt Boyd (Detroit); and outfielder Mitch Haniger (Seattle). Overall member attendance was 412,392 this past summer, an increase of 8.6% in total attendance.