Vice President and Director of Athletics Deidra Dryden named Trace Bevell as the next head men’s basketball coach at Southern Virginia University.
“We are excited to bring Coach Bevell to lead the Knights,” said Dryden. “He has extensive experience as a coach and a reputation as a leader that develops players to their full potential. We look forward to continuing a positive trajectory in the USA South.”
“It is both an honor and privilege to become the new head men’s basketball coach at Southern Virginia University,” said Bevell. “I couldn’t be more excited. I would like to thank Deidra and President Denna for this outstanding opportunity.”
“I embrace the school’s mission and look forward to continuing to build the program,” continued Bevell. “The foundation and support are there; we just need to keep it moving forward. I look forward to coaching quality young men and helping prepare them to become tomorrow’s leaders.”
Bevell comes from Jordan High School in Sandy, Utah, where he has been the head boys basketball coach for the past decade. Overseeing all aspects of the program, Bevell led Jordan to unprecedented heights, including a Utah 5A State Runner-up Title during the 2018–19 season, while also being named Utah’s 5A Coach of the Year.
Before becoming the head coach at Jordan, Bevell was the assistant coach for Lone Peak High School’s varsity boys basketball program, where he contributed to the program’s 26–1 record en route to the Utah 5A State Championship in 2012–13. After the season, Lone Peak was named the MaxPreps National High School Champions.
Prior to Lone Peak, Bevell served as the head men’s basketball coach at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs, Wyoming, from 2007–12. There, he guided the program to a 109–57 record (66% winning percentage). During the 2010–11 season, Bevell led WWCC to a Region IX Championship and a seventh-place finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament.
Bevell also held coaching tenures at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and McCook Community College in McCook, Nebraska. As the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at both institutions, Bevell led his teams to multiple Region IX Championships and appearances in the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament while earning various coaching accolades, including District IX Coach of the Year and NCCAC Coach of the Year.
Bevell earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Western Oregon University, where he majored in physical education and minored in mathematics. He also holds a master’s degree in health, physical education, and recreation with an emphasis in athletic administration and exercise physiology from South Dakota State University. Bevell served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Texas, San Antonio Mission.
D3 NEWS: Bevell named Head Basketball Coach at Southern Virginia
