Bio

dave_bio

 

Bezold is currently completing his second year as full-time faculty at Bellevue High School, Bellevue, KY. He works both remotely and in person with students. Before teaching at Bellevue High School, Bezold returned to Holmes High School and taught remotely during the pandemic shut down 2020-2021.

During the 2019 – 2020 season Bezold was named Kentucky Wesleyan College men’s basketball assistant coach.  Described as a seasoned basketball coach with extensive Division II experience, KWC head coach Drew Cooper says it’s a “win-win” for the community to have Bezold’s experience and winning expertise.  Cooper often references Bezold as an early mentor. Dave Bezold and Drew Cooper go back to their days at NKU (2002-03) when Cooper was a Graduate Assistant and Bezold top assistant to Ken Shields. The added bonus to this position was Bezold coaching his son Tyler in his senior year at Kentucky Wesleyan College. However, that school year ended abruptly and early as the public health shut down was mandated in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bezold completed 2 years (2017-19) with Xavier Women’s Basketball head coach Brian Neal as the program’s Director of Basketball Administration.  In that position he oversaw opponent scouting and non-conference scheduling. He also assisted with practice planning, game strategy and gathering analytics.  In March 2019, Brian Neal announced he was stepping down after six years.

During 2015-2017, Bezold was a full time faculty member at Holmes High School, Covington KY. Bezold stayed in the area his first year away from NKU to see his son Tyler finish his senior year at Holy Cross High school and daughter Abby start her freshman year at Villa Madonna Academy.

Bezold owns a 194-133 record the eleven years he was Norse head coach. Under Bezold’s guidance, the Norse made the transition to an NCAA Division I program in 2012-13. Bezold guided NKU to an 11-16 record during the program’s inaugural season in Division I. The Norse played a non-conference schedule that included Ohio State, Texas Tech, San Francisco, Tulsa and San Diego. NKU posted a 9-9 mark in their first season in the Atlantic Sun Conference and were 5-4 at home against league foes.

The team followed with a 9-21 mark in year number two (2013-14) at the DI level after playing an equally daunting non-conference schedule that included Kentucky, North Carolina and Purdue.

During year number three (2014-15), Bezold’s unanticipated last season with NKU, the team posted an 13-17 overall after another daunting non-conference schedule against Wisconsin (#3 in preseason AP poll), Nebraska, Eastern Washington, Idaho, West Virginia and Northwestern.

They celebrated a 7-7 conference record and because of a change in NCAA and Atlantic Sun conference policy, they were invited by A-Sun to qualify for, participate in and even host an A-Sun championship.

After finishing 8th place in 2013-14, they climbed in the standings to 4th place and secured the first ever Atlantic-Sun tournament bid and home game. Despite losing a heartbreaker in overtime to Lipscomb, the Norse men’s basketball team made history.

Bezold’s 170th win during his 9th season set a NKU record.   (The previous record holder was “Hall of Famer” Kenny Shields who reached his 170th win during his 10th Season)

During NKU’s final season at the NCAA Division II level in 2011-12, Bezold guided NKU to a 23-7 record. The Norse advanced to the championship game of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament, where they lost to Southern Indiana. NKU also earned a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament as Bezold led the team to a 20-win season for the fifth time in six years.

In the 2010-11 campaign, Bezold’s team posted a 21-9 record and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Tournament.

Bezold, who spent 14 years as an assistant coach at NKU, led his Norse to a third-straight Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division championship during the 2008-09 season. NKU posted a 24-7 record, won the GLVC Tournament championship for the first time since 2003 and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the third consecutive year.

In 2006-07, Bezold led the Norse to a 24-9 record and the GLVC East Division championship. His Norse later advanced to the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Tournament championship game. NKU also featured GLVC Player of the Year and first team All-American Steven Wright.

In 2005-06, Bezold guided his team to a 17-11 record. NKU knocked off No. 6 Findlay in the season opener, marking the second-straight year Bezold guided his team to a victory over a nationally-ranked opponent in the John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic. The Norse also posted a road upset at nationally ranked Lynn (FL) in late December. Bezold led his team to wins against NCAA Tournament participants Grand Valley State and Drury.

In his first year as head coach in the 2004-05 season, Bezold led NKU to the championship game of the GLVC Tournament. NKU finished with a 14-15 overall mark and as GLVC Tournament runner-up.

Bezold replaced Ken Shields as the Norse’s head coach after the 2003-04 season.

Dave with former head coach Ken Shields and former assistant coach Pat Ryan
Dave with former head coach Ken Shields and assistant coach Pat Ryan

Bezold was the fourth head coach in the history of the NKU men’s basketball program. He was selected as the head coach on April 22, 2004.

With Bezold serving as the team’s defensive coordinator, NKU won NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region championships in 1996 and ’97. The Norse also finished as NCAA Division II national runner-up in those two seasons.

For five games during the 2001-02 season, Bezold temporarily took over as head coach when Shields was sidelined with back problems. NKU posted a 3-2 record with Bezold guiding the team that season.

Bezold also served as NKU’s women’s tennis head coach from 1996-2000, and he led the Norse to Great Lakes Valley Conference championships in both 1998 and 1999.

Bezold was twice named GLVC Coach of the Year in women’s tennis, and he guided NKU to a pair of NCAA Division II Tournament appearances in 1999 and 2000.

Bezold is a 1990 graduate of Viterbo (WI) University. He played four years at Viterbo and helped the V-Hawks advance to the NAIA national tournament twice. Bezold was Viterbo’s team captain his senior season.

A 1984 graduate of Covington Holy Cross High School, Bezold earned three letters in basketball for the Indians. He also lettered three years in baseball at Holy Cross.

Bezold, his wife, Lisa, and children, Tyler and Abigail, reside in Independence, KY.