Robert Belle joined Eastern’s football program as a defensive quality control coach in the summer of 2016.
In 2016, the EKU defense allowed fewer passing yards than any Eastern team since 2009 and fewer passing touchdowns (12) than any Colonel defense since 2005 (9). Eastern led the Ohio Valley Conference and was sixth in the country with 13 fumbles recovered. The Colonels were 25th in the nation with 23 forced turnovers.
Eastern Kentucky’s defense held No. 2 Jacksonville State without an offensive touchdown, the first time a defense had done that to the Gamecocks since 2012. The Colonels also held JSU to 106 yards below their offensive average.
The defense improved even more in 2017. The Colonels allowed their opponents 62 fewer yards and four fewer points per game. An improved rushing defense allowed 571 fewer yards on the ground than the year before. The passing defense improved as well, beating the 2016 total by 112 yards. EKU ranked first in the league and eighth in FCS with 13 fumbles recovered. The Colonels were second in the OVC and 38th nationally in sacks (2.36/g).
Belle joined the Colonels after spending the 2015 season as a graduate assistant linebackers coach at his alma mater, West Alabama. He helped UWA to a 7-4 record.
Before returning to his alma mater, Belle spent four seasons coaching at the high school level. He was an assistant coach at Livingston High School in 2010. From 2011 to 2014, Belle was an assistant coach and then associate head coach at Sumter Central High School. He helped Sumter make the playoffs in its first year of existence.
Belle has a degree in interdisciplinary studies from West Alabama. As a student-athlete, he helped West Alabama to an 8-5 record and a trip to the second round of the playoffs in 2009.
