Sam Bell Joins Kent Crusaders as New Coach

Kent Crusaders Basketball Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Sam Bell to the coaching staff, where he will serve as Assistant Coach of the Canterbury Basketball Academy. Bell returns to Canterbury almost a decade after graduating from the programme, bringing with him a wealth of experience across grassroots development, the Basketball England talent pathway, and international coaching.

Since leaving the academy as a player, Bell has spent six seasons as Head Coach at Canterbury Kings Basketball Club, where he led the coaching team, shaped the club’s strategic direction, and worked across both community and national league levels with boys and girls. His resume also includes guiding Kent County Boys teams and the South East Girls regional squads, as well as serving as a South region Aspire coach within Basketball England’s talent pathway.

Most recently, Bell assisted the England U15 Girls at the 2023 Four Nations Tournament, working alongside coach Cristina Stanciuca, where they managed to bring home gold. He holds a Level 3 Basketball England coaching licence and is constantly seeking opportunities for continued professional development.

“I’m truly excited to be joining Kent Crusaders and contributing to the academy and the club in this new chapter,” said Bell. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to continue to develop young talent in a positive and challenging environment. I’m looking forward to working with all the staff, players, and Crusaders supporters to continue building on what Adam and Jesse have already built.” Jesse Sazant, who coached Sam during his time as an academy player, shared his enthusiasm about Bell’s return: “Welcoming Sam back is great. He went through our system as a player, and his journey from a passionate academy kid to England assistant coach embodies the dedication and sense of belonging we champion every day. Sam’s eye for detail, relentless energy, and genuine care for people will have an immediate impact on our student-athletes, club players, and coaching team.”

The appointment of Bell further strengthens an already impressive coaching line-up for the 2025–26 season, with Reece Kaye also recently announced as the new Head Coach of the Academy. Adam Davies will transition into a new club leadership role starting in September, while remaining active in day-to-day coaching at the academy.

Sam will begin his new role this week, joining academy training sessions and working closely with the Crusaders U12 Boys, embodying the club’s values of passion, dedication, and belonging from day one.