Bezek Elevated to Defensive Coordinator
6/30/2026 11:42:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Drew Bezek, a member of the Syracuse lacrosse staff that helped lead the team to Championship Weekend this season, has been elevated to Defensive Coordinator, head coach Gary Gait announced.
Bezek, a Central New York native, joined the program ahead of the 2026 following successful head coaching stints at Geneseo, Oswego and Vassar. He also previously served as defensive coordinator at Hamilton College.
"I am incredibly grateful and excited for this role with the Syracuse Men's Lacrosse program," Bezek said. "I would like to sincerely thank Coach Gait and the entire Syracuse lacrosse staff for the opportunity to be part of the premier program in collegiate lacrosse. It is an honor to be part of a program with such a rich tradition of excellence, and I look forward to contributing to its continued success."
Bezek supported John Odierna with the 'Cuse defense this past season that helped Syracuse to its second-straight appearance in the national semifinals. Billy Dwan III, Riley Figueiras and Jimmy McCool all earned All-America status off the defensive unit, plus McCool led the ACC in saves. Odierna departed for a head coaching opportunity at Fairfield.
"Drew is an outstanding coach who has been a great asset to our program over the past year," Gait said. "What he's already shown he can bring to our program, plus his track record of success as both a head coach and defensive coordinator prior to his arrival made him the right fit to lead our defense."
Prior to Syracuse, Bezek was the head coach at Geneseo from 2022-25, taking over a team that hadn't had double-digit wins in a season since 2010 and building the program to record back-to-back SUNYAC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2023-24. A winner of the 2023 SUNYAC Coaching Staff of the Year, he concluded his four-year tenure with 15, 13 and 11-win seasons and posting a .640 winning percentage with the program.
Bezek was the head coach at Oswego for seven seasons prior to his time at Geneseo, leading the Lakers to SUNYAC Tournament appearances in 2018-19, their first trip to the postseason in a decade. Bezek coached 20 all-conference players and two SUNYAC Rookie of the Year award winners in his time at Oswego.
Prior to his time with the lakers, he served as an assistant coach at Hamilton for three seasons, serving as the team's defensive coordinators. He helped lead the Continentals to two straight NESCAC tournaments in 2012 and 2013. Bezek also served as Interim Head Coach for Vassar College in 2011, where he helped the Brewers to their first Liberty League win in program history.
A 2010 graduate of Le Moyne, Bezek helped the Dolphins to four-straight NCAA Championship Game appearances from 2007-10 as a player, including winning the 2007 national title. A three-time Division II First Team All-American (2008, 2009, 2010), Bezek was a two-time national defensive player of the year as a junior and senior.
Bezek and his wife, Kari, have three sons: Deacon, Kaden and Dawson.
Â
Bezek, a Central New York native, joined the program ahead of the 2026 following successful head coaching stints at Geneseo, Oswego and Vassar. He also previously served as defensive coordinator at Hamilton College.
"I am incredibly grateful and excited for this role with the Syracuse Men's Lacrosse program," Bezek said. "I would like to sincerely thank Coach Gait and the entire Syracuse lacrosse staff for the opportunity to be part of the premier program in collegiate lacrosse. It is an honor to be part of a program with such a rich tradition of excellence, and I look forward to contributing to its continued success."
Bezek supported John Odierna with the 'Cuse defense this past season that helped Syracuse to its second-straight appearance in the national semifinals. Billy Dwan III, Riley Figueiras and Jimmy McCool all earned All-America status off the defensive unit, plus McCool led the ACC in saves. Odierna departed for a head coaching opportunity at Fairfield.
"Drew is an outstanding coach who has been a great asset to our program over the past year," Gait said. "What he's already shown he can bring to our program, plus his track record of success as both a head coach and defensive coordinator prior to his arrival made him the right fit to lead our defense."
Prior to Syracuse, Bezek was the head coach at Geneseo from 2022-25, taking over a team that hadn't had double-digit wins in a season since 2010 and building the program to record back-to-back SUNYAC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2023-24. A winner of the 2023 SUNYAC Coaching Staff of the Year, he concluded his four-year tenure with 15, 13 and 11-win seasons and posting a .640 winning percentage with the program.
Bezek was the head coach at Oswego for seven seasons prior to his time at Geneseo, leading the Lakers to SUNYAC Tournament appearances in 2018-19, their first trip to the postseason in a decade. Bezek coached 20 all-conference players and two SUNYAC Rookie of the Year award winners in his time at Oswego.
Prior to his time with the lakers, he served as an assistant coach at Hamilton for three seasons, serving as the team's defensive coordinators. He helped lead the Continentals to two straight NESCAC tournaments in 2012 and 2013. Bezek also served as Interim Head Coach for Vassar College in 2011, where he helped the Brewers to their first Liberty League win in program history.
A 2010 graduate of Le Moyne, Bezek helped the Dolphins to four-straight NCAA Championship Game appearances from 2007-10 as a player, including winning the 2007 national title. A three-time Division II First Team All-American (2008, 2009, 2010), Bezek was a two-time national defensive player of the year as a junior and senior.
Bezek and his wife, Kari, have three sons: Deacon, Kaden and Dawson.
Â
Players Mentioned
Saturday, May 23
Saturday, May 23
Saturday, May 23
Friday, May 22
