Sacred Heart Cathedral hires Serra football's Darius Bell as new head coach

Bell's departure is a loss for Serra, but the Irish gain a proven coach who helped build a state powerhouse.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 6:31pm by Ben Kaplan

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Darius Bell, who spent the last eight seasons as the offensive coordinator at Serra High School, has been hired as the new head football coach at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Bell helped turn Serra into a state powerhouse, leading the Padres to three consecutive Open Division championships from 2021-2023. His departure is a significant loss for Serra, but Sacred Heart Cathedral is gaining an experienced and successful coach who is known for developing players both on and off the field.

Why it matters

The hiring of Darius Bell as the new head coach at Sacred Heart Cathedral is expected to have a ripple effect on the West Catholic Athletic League. Bell is considered one of the most promising young coaches in Northern California, and his track record of building championship-caliber programs while prioritizing character, academics, and team culture makes him an ideal leader for the Irish's football program.

The details

Bell led Riordan High School to its first Central Coast Section title in 2007 as an All-Metro quarterback. At Serra, he helped develop 60 Division I players and was instrumental in the Padres' success, including three consecutive Open Division championships from 2021-2023. Bell is the school's fifth head coach since 2012, replacing Antione Evans who had a 6-7 record in 2025.

  • Bell spent the last eight seasons as the offensive coordinator at Serra High School.
  • Serra represented Northern California as its Open Division champion three consecutive seasons, 2021-2023.
  • Sacred Heart Cathedral let go of popular head coach Antione Evans after four seasons, including a 6-7 campaign in 2025.

The players

Darius Bell

The new head football coach at Sacred Heart Cathedral, who previously served as the offensive coordinator at Serra High School for the last eight seasons.

Patrick Walsh

The head football coach at Serra High School, who will miss Bell dearly but is happy for him to take the head coaching job at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Melinda Lawlore Skrade

The president of Sacred Heart Cathedral, who said that Bell's track record of building championship-caliber programs while prioritizing character, academics, and team culture makes him an ideal leader for the school's football program.

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What they’re saying

“Darius is a fantastic coach, but a better man and friend. He's excellent with the kids. I will miss him dearly on many levels, and now I know what it feels like to be happy and sad at the same time. Sacred Heart Cathedral got it right by hiring Darius.”

— Patrick Walsh, Head Football Coach, Serra High School (San Francisco Chronicle)

“What a blessing it is to welcome coach Darius Bell to the Sacred Heart Cathedral family. His track record of building championship-caliber programs while prioritizing character, academics and team culture makes him an ideal leader for our football program.”

— Melinda Lawlore Skrade, President, Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

Bell's first head coaching job coincides with the birth of his first child six months ago, and he is eager to make an impact on the day-to-day operations of the Sacred Heart Cathedral football program.

The takeaway

The hiring of Darius Bell as the new head football coach at Sacred Heart Cathedral represents a significant gain for the Irish, as they have brought in an experienced and successful coach who has a proven track record of developing players both on and off the field. While his departure is a loss for Serra, Bell's arrival at Sacred Heart Cathedral is expected to have a positive impact on the West Catholic Athletic League.