Following his retirement from playing, Bell became a PE teacher, working at
Campbell College in
Belfast where he coached the school's rugby side. He then became an Elite Player Development Officer for the academy of his former side Ulster, and later an assistant coach. In 2015, Bell left Ulster to join
English Premiership side
Gloucester, where his former Ulster and Ireland teammate
David Humphreys was Director of Rugby. He was appointed as the side's defence coach. In March 2017, Bell was appointed head coach on an interim basis for the remainder of the 2016–17 season, following the dismissal of
Laurie Fisher. Till the end of season 2019-20 he was defence coach. He took over as an attack coach for
Glasgow Warriors for the 2020–21 season. On 18 May 2021, Bell returned to the
Premiership with
Worcester Warriors as their new defence coach from the 2021–22 season. He returned to Ulster as defence coach for the
2022–23 season, leaving to take up a non-rugby opportunity in February 2025. ==Notes==