Jim Bernhardt will join Bill O'Brien as his Director of Football Research as part of a new staff of 16 assistant coaches announced Wednesday. O'Brien refers to Bernhardt, his former position coach at Brown University, as his "right-hand man". For the past two years with the Nittany Lions, Bernhardt served as the Director of Player Development.
"He's a fantastic friend and a great mentor," O'Brien said January 3 in an exclusive interview with Drew Dougherty. "He helped me get into coaching so I owe him a lot."
Bernhardt, a Long Island native, was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach when O'Brien was a defensive end at Brown from 1990-92. In 1993 Bernhardt was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Brown.
Bernhardt began his college career as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Hofstra where we worked from 1988-1989. He joined the University of Central Florida staff as director of football operations in 2004. A graduate of Long Island University, Bernhardt also brings 13 years of high school head coaching experience.
