Joshua Bell joined the Roughriders’ coaching staff on Jan. 15. 2024. He was named the Defensive Co-ordinator on Jan. 9, 2026.

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). 

In 2025, the Roughriders’ defensive backfield played a key role in a championship season. Saskatchewan had three interceptions in the 2025 Grey Cup Game. A key fumble was forced by one cornerback (Tevaughn Campbell) and recovered by another (Marcus Sayles). During the regular season, Campbell finished in a six-way tie for the league lead in interceptions (six) and was the runaway leader in interception return yards (205, the second-most in Roughriders history).

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.