Bezold out as NKU coach after 11 seasons

Northern Kentucky University has fired head basketball coach Dave Bezold, the school announced Monday afternoon.

Bezold led the Norse to a 194-133 record over 11 seasons as head coach, but was 33-54 the last three years since making the transition from Division II to Division I. NKU will begin its national search for a new coach immediately, according to a press release sent Monday.

"This is difficult given Dave's role in our university and our community," NKU's Director of Athletics Ken Bothof said in the release. "Dave is a good man and has given much of himself to the development of the young men in our basketball program. I am grateful for his service and wish him and his family well."

After finishing 5-13 in the Atlantic Sun last season, NKU went 7-7 in conference play this year. The Norse also hosted their first Division I postseason game, which they lost to Lipscomb 76-73 in the first round of the Atlantic Sun conference tournament. Bezold guided the Norse to an 11-16 record during the program's inaugural season in Division I back in 2012-13.

NKU's athletic department declined to further comment on the reason for terminating Bezold or any matters related to the coaching search. The team still has one more year left in its Division I transitional period before it's eligible to compete in the NCAA tournament.

Bezold started his career as an assistant at NKU in 1990. He served under head coach Ken Shields for 14 years before taking over the position after Shields' retirement. He is a 1990 graduate of Viterbo (Wisconsin) College, where he played for four years and helped the V-Hawks advance to the NAIA national tournament twice. Bezold is also a 1984 graduate of Covington Holy Cross High School.