Dave Bezold is entering his first season as the men’s basketball head coach at Northern Kentucky University.
Bezold, who spent 14 years as an assistant coach at NKU, replaces Ken Shields as the Norse's head coach. Shields retired after the 2003-04 season.
"Dave has been a major part of our success during the past 14 years as an assistant coach, and there is no doubt in my mind he will keep the program going in the right direction," NKU athletic director Jane Meier said. "Our future is very bright with Dave Bezold as our head coach."
Bezold, 38, becomes 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.
"It is an honor to be selected as Northern Kentucky University's head coach, and I'm looking forward to the challenge," Bezold said. "I am proud to represent Northern Kentucky University and its high standards, and I will do my best to uphold the values for which NKU is known both locally and nationally.
"Coach Shields is leaving behind a legacy that will be difficult to match, but I am committed to keeping NKU among the nation's elite men's basketball programs."
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.
"We had a strong candidate pool for this position, all of whom have proven themselves capable of coaching at the highest level," NKU President Dr. James Votruba said, "but I believe we have chosen the best candidate to lead us to the next level."
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 (Wis.) College. 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 and his wife, Lisa, have two children, Tyler (7) and Abigail (4). They reside in Taylor Mill, Ky.
