A Legacy of Excellence: The History of Bellarmine College Prep Football
The Bellarmine Bells football team, representing Bellarmine College Preparatory, boasts a rich and storied history within the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). As a member of the Central Coast Section (CCS), the Bells compete in the challenging West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL). Their home games are played at San Jose City College in San Jose, California. Currently, Jalal Beauchman leads the team as head coach, marking the 6th coach in the program's history.
From Santa Clara Prep to Bellarmine Bells: The Early Years
The Bellarmine football program's roots trace back to 1915, when the institution was known as Santa Clara University Preparatory. In 1925, the school transitioned to its current location in College Park and adopted the name Bellarmine College Preparatory, subsequently renaming the team the Bellarmine Bells.
Dennis "Denny" Heenan holds the distinction of being the first official head coach of Bellarmine Football. He played a crucial role in establishing the program's credibility, achieving a record of 56 wins, 18 losses, and 5 ties. Heenan's contributions extended beyond coaching, as he later became the Athletic Director at Santa Clara University.
Following Heenan, Bill Prentice took the helm after graduating from Santa Clara University. Prentice achieved immediate success, securing the Catholic Athletic League title in his first year. Over his four-year tenure, he amassed 26 wins, 11 losses, and 1 tie.
The John Hanna Era: A Period of Sustained Success
John Hanna's arrival in 1952 marked the beginning of an era of unprecedented stability and success. He became the longest-tenured head coach up to that point, leading the Bells for 24 seasons. During his time, Hanna achieved 21 winning seasons, including five undefeated campaigns.
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Between 1963 and 1966, the Bells experienced a period of remarkable dominance, achieving 36 wins with only one loss. This era saw the emergence of four All-Americans, two nationally ranked teams, and the number one ranked defense in the nation in 1965.
Walt Arnold's High-Winning Percentage
In 1977, Walt Arnold assumed the position of head coach. Over his six years in charge, he achieved the highest winning percentage of any Bellarmine coach, standing at an impressive 82%. The 1981 season was particularly memorable, with the Bells earning the number one ranking in the state and securing their first-ever CCS championship in any sport under Arnold's guidance. That same year, the Bells reached the California State Championship game. Arnold's teams consistently contended for titles in the Catholic Athletic League (now WCAL) and CCS. Known for his competitive spirit, Arnold instilled this quality in his players. His teams employed a pro-style offense, featuring a fullback and tailback, with the quarterback primarily operating under center.
The Mike Janda Era: A Legacy of Wins and Championships
Mike Janda holds the record for the longest head coaching career in the Bellarmine program, spanning 36 years. Under Janda's leadership, the Bells became renowned for their distinctive run-heavy double wing offense, characterized by misdirection and disciplined blocking. Janda's remarkable achievements led him to become the winningest coach in CCS history, with a record of 270 wins, 104 losses, and 3 ties. The Bells secured 6 CCS Championships (1986, 1990, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015) and 14 WCAL Championships during his tenure. Additionally, the Bells made three appearances in the California State Championship Game under Janda's guidance.
In 2011, led by quarterback Travis McHugh and linebacker Joe Gigantino, the Bells enjoyed one of their most successful seasons. They captured the WCAL and CCS titles and advanced to the California State Championship game. McHugh was recognized as the CCS Player of the Year for his outstanding performance.
Jalal Beauchman Era: Modernizing the Program
In March 2020, Jalal Beauchman, a former standout wide receiver for the Bells and San Jose State Spartans, was appointed as the head coach. Prior to his appointment, Beauchman served as the head coach of Bellarmine's freshman team in 2019, leading them to an undefeated season and the Freshman Football WCAL title.
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 football season was shifted to the spring of 2021, with the Bells playing a shortened five-game schedule.
Under Beauchman's leadership, the Bellarmine football program underwent a significant transformation. Beauchman prioritized modernizing the program by introducing a new spread offense system, with the assistance of offensive line coach Scott Glicksberg. He also implemented a college-level style of defense, bringing in former Bell player Joe Gigantino as the defensive coordinator. Former Bell player and San Jose State alumnus Jackson Burrill was appointed as the special teams coordinator, while Bell alumnus Brennan Ronald assumed the role of Director of Football Operations.
The Bells demonstrated promise in the 2020 season, finishing with a 2-3 record. Their first win under Beauchman came against the San Benito Haybalers, a game in which the Bells overcame a 14-point deficit despite having 17 players and one coach sidelined due to COVID protocols. Key players in the comeback victory included quarterback Tommy Anderson, running back Jaxon Sawyer, wide receiver Nicho Domine, and tight end Griffin Waiss. Their losses included a game against the Central Catholic Raiders where the Bells relinquished a 21 point lead.
The Bells carried momentum into the 2021 season. Led by quarterback Wade Smith and running back Ben Pfaff, the unranked Bells upset the 5th ranked Menlo-Atherton Bears in their opening game. The 2021 season marked the first time since 2015 that the Bells won their first four games of the year, defeating the San Leandro Pirates, Central Catholic Raiders, and Archbishop Riordan Crusaders. Additional victories came against the Archbishop Mitty Monarchs, Valley Christian Warriors, and Saint Ignatius Wildcats. The Bell's regular season losses came against the Junipero Serra Padres, Sacred Heart Cathedral Fightin' Irish, and the Saint Francis Lancers. The Bells concluded the regular season with a 7-3 record, finishing third in the WCAL.
In the first round of the playoffs against the Los Gatos Wildcats, the Bells secured a dramatic victory. Despite being the higher seed, the game was held at the Wildcat's home stadium due to COVID-19 restrictions. With 57 seconds remaining, the Wildcats were on the Bell's nine-yard line when a pass was tipped by Bells linebacker Brandon Broch and intercepted by defensive back Thomas Divittorio, who returned the ball 94 yards for a game-sealing touchdown. This play became known as "Mayhem at Helm."
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The 2022 season began with a loss against the Menlo-Atherton Bears despite an early 20-0 lead.
Tradition and Rivalry
St. Ghiorso Field serves as the practice facility for the Bell's varsity team and is located on the Bellarmine College Preparatory campus.
The Saint Francis Lancers represent Bellarmine's biggest rival, with their annual game known as "The Holy War." The Monarchs are also considered rivals due to the proximity between the two schools. The Blue Crew is the official student section of the Bellarmine Bells, and the Bellarmine Pep Band provides entertainment at games. Bellarman, an anthropomorphic Bell, serves as the school's mascot.
One of the oldest traditions in the Bellarmine Football Program is the ringing of the Bell after every touchdown. The original bell, a former ship's bell, was acquired in the early 1940s by Fr. James Rooney. In 1957, Fr. James Devlin spearheaded an operation to replace the original Bell with a reconditioned Southern Pacific locomotive bell.
All Bellarmine Football home games are streamed on Youtube on the channel Bellarmine Sports. The broadcast team includes Kevin Danna, a Bellarmine alumnus, on play-by-play.
Linebacker Legacy
Bellarmine has developed a reputation for producing top linebacker talent, particularly in the 21st century. Since 2009, the program has sent 11 linebackers to the collegiate level, with 10 playing at the Division 1 level.
Alternate Uniforms
The tradition of wearing alternate tops and bottoms in games against the Saint Francis Lancers originated in the early 2000s. The Bells typically wear all blue at home and all white away. However, in the Holy War game against Saint Francis, the Bells don the alternating look.
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