After being named Gannon’s men’s basketball coach on April 11, 2023, Jordan Fee has moved quickly to begin assembling his staff. Today he announced the addition of Easton Bazzoli as assistant coach.
Bazzoli is a native of western Pennsylvania and has spent the last six seasons on the coaching staff at Union University in Tennessee. He served as a graduate assistant coach in 2017-18 before being elevated to assistant coach the next year.
“Coach Bazzoli has impressed me on and off the court dating back to 2012 when I first recruited him out of Seneca Valley High School in western Pennsylvania,” related Fee. “I’ve followed his memorable playing career and wasn’t surprised at how naturally he transitioned into coaching. Having competed against him now for years in the South Region during his tenure at Union University, it was obvious Coach Bazzoli is one of the top young coaches in college basketball, at any level. He is a relentless recruiter, relationship builder, and phenomenal basketball mind. Easton is a first-class human being and will be an integral part of restoring the tradition of Gannon Basketball. We couldn’t be more excited to have him on board and welcome him, his wife Katrina, and daughter Kaiya to Erie.”
Bazzoli helped lead Union to a 96-71 record in six seasons. The Bulldogs qualified for the Gulf South Conference tournament the last five years. Interestingly enough Fee and Bazzoli crossed paths in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Nova Southeastern, with Fee serving as an assistant coach, and Union met in the NCAA South Region semifinals. Nova Southeastern would edge the Bulldogs 81-80 to end their season at 24-9. The 24 wins were the most for a Union team since the 2010-11 season.
“My wife, Katrina, and I are absolutely thrilled to be bringing our family to join Coach Fee at Gannon University,” commented Bazzoli. “To be able to return to western Pennsylvania only 90 minutes from where I grew up is just the cherry on top for this opportunity. The care factor from the entire school and Erie community for Gannon basketball and all athletics makes this position one that I could not pass up. My belief in building deep, lifelong relationships is right in line with Coach Fee and that is a core reason why a call from him about a job is something that would always spark my interests. I am grateful and humbled that Coach Fee called and believed in me for this special opportunity to build this great program and compete for national championships at Gannon!”
Bazzoli was a standout at Seneca Valley High School in Harmony, Pa., averaging 15.5 points and 4.0 assists as a senior. He was named the Butler County Player of the Year and was selected to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette AAAA Fab Five Senior and Pittsburgh Tribune Review North Fab Five squad. He was also accorded All-Section 3 First Team honors. Bazzoli played in the 2013 Roundball Classic All-Star Game and the Hoops for a Cure All-Star Game. He was ranked fifth in the Western Pennsylvania Class of 2013 by the Pittsburgh Basketball Report.
From there Bazzoli moved on to Cedarville University, playing for the Yellow Jackets from 2013-17. The 6-foot 5-inch guard was a four-year starter and would appear in 114 games, including 95 starts. He finished his career with 973 points and 526 rebounds along with 201 assists and 112 steals.
As a junior in 2015-16 Bazzoli ranked third on the team in scoring (10.8 ppg.), rebounding (5.3 rpg.), and assists (2.2 apg.) while starting 28 of 29 games. As a sophomore he averaged 8.4 ppg. and 4.1 rpg. and as a senior in 2016-17 was at 8.6 ppg., and 5.2 rpg. In between his sophomore and junior seasons Bazzoli went on a tour with Athletes in Action to New Zealand.
Bazzzoli received his bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Cedarville in 2017. He and his wife, Katrina, have a daughter, Kaiya.
https://gannonsports.com/news/2023/4/21/easton-bazzoli-named-assistant-mens-basketball-coach.aspx
