Joshua Bell was announced as the Roughriders pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach on Jan 15. 2024.

In his first season as the Roughriders’ Defensive Backs Coach and Pass Game Co-ordinator, Bell led a productive secondary. 

Under Bell’s leadership, Rolan Milligan Jr. had a career-best season, leading the league in interceptions (8) and defensive takeaways (8) and finishing third in special teams tackles (20), fifth in total defensive plays (111) and sixth in pass knockdowns. He was honoured as the defensive player of the week by Pro Football Focus in Weeks 1, 5 and 17 as well being recognized as the PFF special teams player of the month for June. Milligan Jr. was also the Roughriders’ nominee for Most Outstanding Player, Most Outstanding Special Teams Player and Most Outstanding Defensive Player. He won the league award in the latter category. 

In 2024, three Roughriders coverage specialists were named to the All-CFL team: Milligan Jr. (defensive halfback), Marcus Sayles (cornerback) and C.J. Reavis (cover linebacker). 

Bell’s unit contributed to a Riders defence that led the league in turnover ratio (+26). 

Before beginning his coaching career, Bell was an exceptional football player in his own right. The California native is both a Grey Cup champion (Calgary, 2014) and Super Bowl champion (Green Bay Packers, 2011). He was named a CFL West Division All-Star in 2015. 

He started his coaching career with Calgary (where he was on the coaching staff from 2018 to 2020) and continued with the Toronto Argonauts (2021 to 2023). He won a Grey Cup championship with both teams.