Andrew Pace
The Bellarmine Knights are the teams representing Bellarmine University, located in Louisville, Kentucky, in intercollegiate sports. The Knights have had a basketball program since the school's founding in 1950 and compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) for most sports, including basketball. The 2023-24 men's basketball season will be Bellarmine's fourth year in ASUN, as they began their transition to NCAA Division I in the 2020-21 school year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team Name | Bellarmine Knights |
| University | Bellarmine University |
| Location | Louisville, Kentucky |
| Coach | Scott Davenport |
| Past Coaches | Jack McGetrick, Joe Reibel, Bob Valvano, Alex Groza |
| Number of Coaches | 11 |
| Number of Sports | 25 intercollegiate varsity sports |
| Men's Sports | Baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, sprint football, swimming, tennis, track & field, wrestling |
| Women's Sports | Basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball |
| Co-ed Sports | Cheerleading, dance |
| Conference | Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) |
| Past Conference | Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) |
| Division | NCAA Division I |
| Past Division | NCAA Division II |
| Number of GLVC Men's Basketball Titles Won | 5 |
| Number of NCAA Midwest Regional Titles Won | 4 |
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What You'll Learn
Bellarmine Knights basketball history
The Bellarmine Knights men's basketball team represents Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The team began in 1950, coinciding with the opening of Bellarmine College. They played their first game on December 27, 1950, against St. Mary's College. The Knights joined the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) in 1951 and remained in the conference until 1964. They won their first conference title in 1963 under coach Alex Groza.
From the conference's founding in 1972 until the 2019-20 season, the Knights competed in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) of the NCAA Division II ranks. During this time, they won five GLVC men's basketball titles and four NCAA Midwest Regional titles. In June 2019, Bellarmine University announced that the Knights would be transitioning to the NCAA Division I and joining the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) beginning in the 2020-21 school year. This transition sent the Knights, a Division II powerhouse, into a four-year process of adjustment. During this time, they were eligible to participate in postseason events not organised by the NCAA, such as the College Basketball Invitational.
In their first Division I season, the Knights finished with a 14-8 overall record and a 10-3 conference play record, securing second place in the ASUN. Forward Pedro Bradshaw and guard Dylan Penn were recognised for their outstanding performances. After the 2024-25 season, head coach Scott Davenport retired, and his son and top assistant, Doug Davenport, took over as head coach.
The Knights have appeared in one College Basketball Invitational (CBI) with a record of 1-1. In addition to basketball, Bellarmine University competes in 25 intercollegiate varsity sports, including wrestling, lacrosse, and field hockey.
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The Knights' conference membership
The Bellarmine Knights are the teams representing Bellarmine University, located in Louisville, Kentucky, in intercollegiate sports. The Knights compete in 25 intercollegiate varsity sports, including basketball for both men and women.
The Knights are a member of the NCAA Division I ranks, primarily competing in the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) for most sports. This move to ASUN began in the 2020–21 school year, marking the start of a four-year transition to Division I. The Bellarmine Knights previously competed in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) of the NCAA Division II ranks from 1978–79 to 2019–20.
In the 2022 season, the ASUN reinstated men's lacrosse, which the Knights had competed in as Division I members since the 2004–05 school year. The Knights have won five GLVC men's basketball titles and four NCAA Midwest Regional titles. They also won the NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship in 2011.
Five Bellarmine teams in sports that are not sponsored by the ASUN have varied homes. The Knights have been a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) for wrestling since joining ASUN. They had also been SoCon members in men's lacrosse, which has since moved back to the ASUN. The Bellarmine aquatics program is now housed in the ASUN, which absorbed the swimming and diving side of the CCSA in 2023–24.
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Knights' coaches through time
The Bellarmine Knights men's basketball team has had 12 coaches in its 73-season history. The current head coach is Doug Davenport, who replaced his father, Scott Davenport, after the 2024-25 season.
Scott Davenport was the head coach for 20 seasons and led the Knights to their first Division I postseason victory. He is one of two Bellarmine coaches who have also guided teams to Kentucky's high school championship, both doing so with Louisville schools. The other coach who moved up to the college level was Joe Reibel, who won with St. Xavier High in 1962. Reibel is Bellarmine's most successful coach, with a record of 346–277.
Another notable Bellarmine coach was Bob Valvano, a member of Mensa, an international organization for the brightest two percent of people globally. Arguably the most famous Bellarmine coach was Alex Groza, an All-American and Gold Medal winner at the 1948 London Olympics. Groza led the Knights to their first conference title when they won the 1963 KIAC regular season and tournament titles.
The Bellarmine Knights compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) at the NCAA Division I level. The Knights previously competed in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) from its founding in 1972 through the 2019-20 season.
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The Knights' athletic department
The Knights athletic department represents Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky, in intercollegiate sports. The Knights compete in 25 intercollegiate varsity sports, including men's basketball, baseball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, sprint football, swimming, tennis, track and field, and wrestling, and women's basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. Cheerleading and dance are also listed as co-ed sports, although the dance team is all-female.
The Knights have a rich history in men's basketball, with the program dating back to the school's founding in 1950. In that inaugural year, Ted Wade became the first Black player on an integrated college basketball team in Kentucky. Since then, the team has been coached by 11 different men, including notable figures such as Bob Valvano, an ESPN personality and member of Mensa, and Alex Groza, an All-American and Gold Medal winner at the 1948 London Olympics. The current head coach is Louisville native Scott Davenport, who previously led Ballard High to a Kentucky state championship in 1988.
The Knights have found success on the court, winning five GLVC men's basketball titles and four NCAA Midwest Regional titles. In 2011, they captured the NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship. The team made the transition to NCAA Division I beginning in the 2020-21 school year, joining the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN). This move placed them in the same conference as rivals Jacksonville and Mercer for most sports, although some teams compete in other conferences for sports not sponsored by the ASUN.
The Knights' women's basketball team also competes in the ASUN Conference. While they may not have the same illustrious history as their male counterparts, the Bellarmine University Dance Team has brought national acclaim to the athletic department, winning the NDA Collegiate Dance Championship in 2015 and 2019.
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The Knights' NCAA Division status
The Bellarmine Knights represent Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky, in intercollegiate sports. The Knights have a rich history in college basketball, with the program beginning in 1950, the same year the university was founded.
In terms of their NCAA Division status, the Knights have undergone a transition in recent years. Up until the 2019-20 academic year, the Knights competed in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) of the NCAA Division II ranks. During their time in the GLVC, the Knights enjoyed success, winning five men's basketball titles and four NCAA Midwest Regional titles. In 2011, they won the NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship.
However, on June 18, 2019, it was announced that the Knights would be moving up to Division I, joining the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN). This transition period was expected to last four years, starting with the 2020-21 academic year. During this time, some sports that were not sponsored by the ASUN had varied conference affiliations. For example, wrestling remained in the Southern Conference (SoCon), and men's lacrosse returned to the ASUN after a brief hiatus.
The Bellarmine Knights now primarily compete in the ASUN, with a few exceptions for sports not sponsored by the conference. This move to Division I elevated the profile of the university's athletic program and presented new challenges and opportunities for the Knights' teams across various sports.
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Frequently asked questions
The Bellarmine Knights compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN).
The Knights joined the ASUN beginning in the 2020–21 school year, starting a four-year transition to NCAA Division I.
Before joining the ASUN, Bellarmine competed in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) of the NCAA Division II ranks from 1978–79 to 2019–20.
