“[Norm Bazin] won this job far and away,” UMass-Lowell Chancellor Martin T. Meehan said. “When I think about the intangibles he brings, the fact that he’s an alum, the fact that I think he’s going to be able to engage our community — our university community, the community at large — I think that’s really important.”

Before coaching at Hamilton, Bazin spent eight seasons at Colorado College as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. It was there that Bazin may have conquered the biggest battle of his life when he survived a head-on car accident while recruiting. It took two years for Bazin to fully recover but that moment served as a major inspiration in his life.

“I think I might have a healthier perspective than most. I rarely have a bad day,” said Bazin, reflecting on the second chance at life he was given after the accident. “Every day is a good day in Norm Bazin’s life. When you lose a couple of games, [I’m] never happy, just like everybody else. But I think perspective-wise, I’m pretty sound.”