Bernhardt enters his fifth season as an assistant coach with the University of Vermont men's lacrosse program in 2021.
Vermont held a 3-1 record before the cancelation of the 2020 season due to COVID-19. After dropping the opener at Holy Cross (Feb. 15), the Catamounts rattled off three straight wins on Virtue Field, beating Quinnipiac (Feb. 22), Merrimack (Feb. 29), and Dartmouth (Mar. 7).
The 2019 Catamount offense saw freshman David Closterman earn America East Rookie of the Year honors, the program's first since 2014. Additionally, Closterman, Ben French, and Thomas McConvey were named to the America East All-Conference Second Team and Closterman, McConvey, and Sal Iaria earned spots on the All-Rookie team. The squad posted 20 or more goals in a game twice this season, a feat accomplished just three times since 1994.
Bernhardt's offense finished the 2018 season with 10.31 goals per game. Redshirt senior Ian MacKay earned First-Team America East honors after a 59-point campaign. Liam Limoges was named to the America East All-Rookie team and finished the season with 26 goals and 32 points, both among the freshman records at UVM. Limoges finished the year with a .578 shot percentage, the second highest in the NCAA.
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In his inaugural season, UVM made impressive strides on the field. The Catamounts rallied from five-goal deficits to win each of their first two games and ultimately began the season 3-0 for the first time since 2001. Vermont averaged 8.08 turnovers per game, which led America East and closed the regular season ranked 14th nationally.
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Bernhardt also plays professionally for the Ohio Machine in Major League Lacrosse (MLL). With the Machine, he appeared at midfield in 14 games during the 2016 regular season. Bernhardt chipped in 10 goals and nine assists while scooping 19 ground balls and causing seven turnovers. He added four more goals in the playoffs as Ohio advanced to the MLL Championship Game in August.
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During his collegiate career at Maryland, he was a two-time national runner-up and team captain with the Terrapins. He was drafted 12th overall by the Hamilton Nationals in the 2012 MLL Draft.
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Bernhardt was previously the head varsity coach and transition teacher at Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs, Florida and was named 2016 Central Florida Coach of the Year. After graduation, he returned to Maryland as the Director of Lacrosse Operations for the 2014 season.