Ernie Denham, a two-time GLVC Coach of the Year who has guided the Bellarmine University men's golf team to three appearances in the NCAA Division II National Championship, has been the head coach of the Knights since 2003.
Denham will enter his 18th season at Bellarmine in 2019-20.
In 2018-19, James Inman captured the individual GLVC title and the Knights advanced to the GLVC Championship semifinals after taking third in stroke play at the event. Bellarmine received an invitation to the NCAA Midwest/Central Super Regional. Inman's accolades included an All-Midwest Region acknowledgement.
Bellarmine placed third in the stroke-play portion of the GLVC Championship as the 2017-18 Knights advanced to the semifinals. Bellarmine received a berth in the NCAA Midwest/Central Super Regional. The Knights were an exemplary group in the classroom and earned the coveted title of "Academic National Champion" by the Golf Coaches Association of America after combining for a 3.69 team GPA.
In 2016-17, Denham guided Bellarmine to the GLVC Championship title. After edging Missouri-St. Louis 3-2 in medal-match play in the semifinals, the Knights romped 5-0 over Drury in the finals, an unprecedented sweep and the first time a No. 4 seed had won the title. For his efforts, Denham was named GLVC Coach of the Year. Bellarmine earned a berth in the NCAA Midwest/Central Super Regional, and DJ Vogt advanced as an individual to the NCAA National Championships while being named an All-American.
Bellarmine's latest berth in the NCAA National Championship came in 2015-16 after the Knights placed third in both the GLVC Championship and the NCAA Midwest/Central Super Regional. Along the way, Inman earned GLVC Freshman of the Year accolades and, with Vogt, was named to the All-GLVC and All-Midwest Region teams.
Denham guided Bellarmine to the NCAA National Championship in 2013. The Knights finished 18th behind Bryan Ratterman, who received All-America accolades during his time with Denham.
Denham led Bellarmine to a GLVC title in 2004 and was honored as the GLVC Coach of the Year. He first led the Knights to the NCAA National Championship in 2010, marking Bellarmine's first appearance since 1993. Bellarmine placed 15th, its second-best finish in program history.
Denham regularly has a student-athlete earn All-America Scholar recognition, with 16 awards received by his players over the course of his career.
Prior to Bellarmine, Denham was the head men’s golf coach at the University of Louisville for 12 seasons. In 1977, he accepted the position of Executive Director of Kentucky Golf Association and Kentucky Section PGA. He served in the position for 11 years.
A Louisville native, Denham graduated from Seneca High School in 1961. He earned a bachelor’s degree in math from the University of Louisville while also playing golf for the Cardinals. He then earned a master’s degree from the University of Kentucky.
