Jan. 6, 2005
ORLANDO - UCF head coach George O'Leary announced Thursday that James Bernhardt has been named running backs coach and recruiting coordinator for the Golden Knights. Bernhardt replaces Brian Polian, who accepted a coaching position at Notre Dame earlier in the week.
"I am excited to add Jim to our staff," stated O'Leary. "He is familiar with our program and I have always tried to keep consistency in my coaching staffs during my head coaching career. Jim has excellent experience both on the collegiate and high school levels and will be an excellent addition to our coaching staff."
"I look forward to begin my coaching career at UCF for Coach O'Leary," commented Bernhardt. "It's a great opportunity to work with one of the top coaches in the nation and with a great group of assistant coaches."
Bernhardt moves from UCF's director of football operations post to the coaching position. He served in the role of director of football operations since the hiring of O'Leary in December of 2003.
Prior to UCF, Bernhardt was a high school head coach since 1995, including stops at Seminole High School in Sanford and Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando.
His collegiate coaching resume includes stops at Brown and Hofstra. Bernhardt was Brown's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 1990-92 before becoming Brown's offensive coordinator/offensive line coach in 1993.
Prior to his stop in the Ivy League, Bernhardt was an assistant head coach/defensive coordinator at Hofstra from 1988-89.
Bernhardt has been published three times in Scholastic Coach Magazine and was the Newsday Long Island Coach of the Year in 1986.
Bernhardt and his wife Catherine have three sons, Jake (15), Jesse (14) and Jared (7).