BOULDER — Vonn Bell could only resist his calling for so long.

Despite working out for NFL teams as recently as last fall, the longtime safety made the jump to coaching this offseason with Deion Sanders and Colorado.

He originally joined the staff as a defensive analyst assisting the safeties. But when defensive coordinator Robert Livingston, who coached Bell with the Cincinnati Bengals, left to join the Denver Broncos’ staff, Bell was promoted to safeties coach to replace his old position coach. Linebackers coach Chris Marve was elevated to lead the Buffaloes’ defense as a whole.

“It’s been a blessing, for sure,” Bell said. “I breathe, live and eat football, so I’m happy to be here. I just embrace the grind, embrace the opportunity and be here wholeheartedly and fully committed.”

If NFL teams come calling for the ex-safety, the 31-year-old Bell isn’t interested. Instead, he’s still waking up at 4 a.m. to get in workouts with CU strength and conditioning coach Andreu Swasey, whom Bell worked with during his playing career. After that he’s off to the meeting rooms during his first spring practice period in Boulder.

There’s a reason Bell wasted no time transitioning from player to coach.

“It’s really (due to) a love for the game and what it’s done for me,” Bell said. “I embody the game of football. It creates that structure in life and that discipline. I’ve always been like that. It’s just in me. It’s who I am. I was trying to run away from it at first. I was still trying to play, getting workouts and stuff like that, but (there’s) always a different life, a different calling.

“(The saying) ‘Don’t run away from what God got for you’ — I really just embraced that and I’m happy to be here.”

Bell said he’s been preparing for years for this position. As the elder statesman in the safety room for the back half of a nine-year career that featured over 100 starts and an appearance in Super Bowl LVI, Bell is accustomed to helping players at his position and bringing along young ones. 

That’s carried into his coaching style, which he describes as “fiery, passionate and detailed.” His new-look safety room has implored him to coach them hard and Bell has responded.

“I’m always hard on my guys because I see it through them,” Bell said. “It’s just how Coach Prime (is) with the corners. We were playing at that level so long, you see how it’s done and know how it’s supposed to look. They’re coming back for more every day. That’s what gives you that itch even before. We have a great room. 

“It’s new for everybody, a new scheme for everybody, so I just urge the guys to put their arms around each other to bring that brotherhood along and permeate it throughout the defense.”

This spring is mostly a work in progress for Bell’s group. The only returner at the position from last year’s CU team is sixth-year senior and former walk-on Ben Finneseth, but he’s out for the foreseeable future with a knee injury. 

Newcomers like Vanderbilt transfer Randon Fontenette, New Mexico State transfer Naeten Mitchell and Oklahoma transfer Jaydan Hardy have stood out so far, but Bell is keeping things simple. His group has had to quickly adjust to a coordinator change and a change in defensive scheme a week before the start of spring practices.

“Right now, we’re just implementing the defense and what (Marve) has,” Bell said. “We’re getting it on film and getting guys reps. We’re making sure guys play relentless, fast, violent, smart and just make sure guys don’t really think out there and just play fast. We’ll clean up the rest of the stuff on film when we get in the meeting room. We’re just gonna keep pressing on them and see what they can retain right now, then we’ll go make adjustments.”

As a first-time coach, Bell is going through the same process. He’s still learning Marve’s defense as the two try to best figure out how to get the most out of a safety room with plenty of talent. 

“I’m thankful for the opportunity that (Sanders) gave me and I’ll never take it for granted,” Bell said. “I come here and show up to work every day. It’s like me playing still, I’m still pouring into that. I gotta sacrifice. I gotta put time in, learn the defense, learn the ins and outs of it and game-planning. It’s still like you’re a player, only you can’t do it no more. It’s just chess pieces now. That’s how I was always thinking, so it was an easy transition for me.”