Dave Bezold, former Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball head coach, has been named assistant coach at Kentucky Wesleyan College.
Panthers head coach Drew Cooper made the announcement Wednesday. Bezold is a seasoned basketball coach with extensive Division II experience.
“This is a win-win,” Cooper said. “It is a win for our community to add someone of Bezold’s experience and winning expertise. Bezold is a mentor of mine and I am excited that he will be significantly shaping our characteristics on and off the floor this season.
“It is a win for the Bezold family that he gets to coach (his son Tyler) his senior year at such a high level of basketball. As a father, I would imagine that’s somewhat of a dream come true.”
Bezold comes to Kentucky Wesleyan after a two-year run as the Xavier University women’s basketball director of administration.
As head coach at NKU, he posted a 194-133 record overall record in 11 seasons (2004-15). He also served as an assistant there for 14 seasons.
While NKU was a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, Bezold and the Norse posted a 7-1 mark against the Panthers.
Bezold and Cooper spent the 2002-03 season together at Northern Kentucky as assistants for Ken Shields.
“This is a tradition-rich program,” Bezold said of Wesleyan. “There is a high level of excitement coming to a program that has played in numerous big games. I look forward to working with Drew and the players as this program continues to experience perennial success.”
In addition to Cooper filling out his coaching staff, he announced three exhibition games to be added to the Wesleyan basketball schedule.
Wesleyan will play at Saint Louis University on Oct. 30. The Billikins finished 23-13 overall last season, winning the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament before a loss to Virginia Tech in the NCAA Tournament.
On Nov. 7, the Panthers will travel to Samford University, who are coming off a 17-16 season.
Wesleyan then plays Dec. 17 at Western Kentucky, who went 20-14 last season before falling in the Conference USA Championship game to Old Dominion.
