Ben Reel was named head coach of the Bellarmine University baseball team in September of 2024.
In 2026, Reel guided the Knights to their most successful season to date in the Division I era, as Bellarmine finished 19-34 overall and 11-19 in ASUN Conference play. The 19 victories established a new D1-era program record, surpassing the previous mark of 17 set by the 2025 squad, while the 11 ASUN wins matched the program's D1-era conference-win record. Bellarmine also produced a program-best group of postseason honorees, with Landon Akers and AJ Swader earning First Team All-ASUN recognition and freshmen Jake Bell and Cole Huett being named to the ASUN All-Freshman Team. Akers earned All-ASUN honors for the second consecutive season, while his selection alongside Swader marked the first time in the program's Division I era that two Knights earned First Team All-ASUN honors in the same season. Swader ranked among the conference's top offensive performers, finishing third in batting average, second in RBI and first in doubles with a Bellarmine D1-era single-season record 21 two-baggers, while Akers led the ASUN in runs scored. Six Knights additionally earned Academic All-ASUN recognition. The season's momentum continued into the summer when right-handed pitcher Cade Rusch was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 19th round (576th overall) of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft, becoming the first Bellarmine player selected in the MLB Draft since Brandon Pfaadt in 2020. Rusch finished his lone season with the Knights with a 3-2 record, three saves and a 2.16 ERA while striking out 38 batters in 33.1 innings.
In Reel's first season at Bellarmine, the Knights in 2025 set Division I-era program records for total wins (17, four more than previous high) and ASUN wins (11) while recording their first-ever D1-era victory over both a nationally ranked opponent and a College World Series qualifier after defeating No. 21 Louisville 10-9 on May 13. Reel's first squad produced a D1-era record 355 runs while redshirt freshman Landon Akers became the program's youngest All-ASUN selection (second team, shortstop). The Knights additionally set a program record with 38 ASUN Honor Roll recipients.
Prior to his arrival at Bellarmine, Reel was the head coach of New Albany, Indiana-based IU Southeast of the NAIA for 15 distinguished seasons from 2009-23. He became the Grenadiers’ all-time winningest coach and finished his tenure with a 548-264-1 record, including 274-62 in River States Conference play. He departed owning the highest winning percentage in program history (.674). In addition, Reel spent the last three years prior to his arrival at Bellarmine as an associate scout of the Houston Astros.
Under Reel, IU Southeast captured nine regular-season titles and four conference tournament championships. He guided the Grenadiers to the 2021 NAIA World Series and eight total appearances in the NAIA Opening Round. The 2021 squad set a program record with 50 wins after going 50-16, including 26-1 in RSC action.
Reel, whose teams were ranked in the NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Poll Top 25 each year from 2016-23, was recognized as the 2021 NAIA-Ball National Coach of the Year. He was acknowledged as the RSC Coach of the Year nine times.
Reel coached 30 players who entered the professional ranks. That included Cameron Conner, who was chosen in the 20th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft.
Before coaching IU Southeast, Reel was a standout player for the Grenadiers. He was a first-team All-Conference catcher and All-Region selection who was named an NAIA Academic All-American in 2006. Reel began his college career at NJCAA Division 1 Cleveland State Community College, where he played for legendary athletic director and Hall of Fame coach Mike Policastro while achieving a 1.000 fielding percentage as a catcher for the Cougars in 2005, a season in which the squad was the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association Region 7 runner-up.
Reel graduated from IU Southeast with a bachelor’s degree in general studies and a minor in supervision in the spring of 2007. He attended South Dearborn High School in Aurora, Indiana, and was an All-EIAC and All-County selection while playing for Jay Malott.
Reel is married to Morgan Reel and the couple have two children, son Beckham and daughter Mila Jean.
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