Matt Bessen enters his fifth season as an assistant coach with the men’s basketball program in 2023-24.
In his first season with the Blugolds in 2019-20, Bessen helped the team to the NCAA tournament, the first time since the 2000-01 season. In his three full seasons and the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, Bessen has helped guide the Blugolds to 50 wins.
Prior to joining the Blugolds, Bessen was the head boys basketball coach at Chippewa Falls High School, the head girls basketball coach at Oshkosh North and St. Mary’s Springs, and spent five seasons as the top assistant with the men’s basketball program at UW-Stout.
While at UW-Stout, Bessen served as the defensive coordinator, and his teams were ranked in the top five of all NCAA Division III teams for defensive points allowed and defensive field goal percentage. Stout averaged 14 wins per season with Bessen running the defense including a 20-7 record during the 2012-13 season.
Bessen holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Broadfield Social Studies Education from UW-Oshkosh and a Master’s of Business Administration from Ohio University. He is a full-time Development Officer with the UW-Eau Claire Foundation. He lives in Eau Claire with his wife, Dana, and children Elliott, Nolan, and Kendall.
