TRUMBULL—St. Joseph High School is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff Bernardi as our new Head Boys Basketball Coach. Coach Bernardi brings a wealth of coaching and leadership experience to the position. For the past eight years 2014-2022 Coach Bernardi has been the Head Boys Basketball Coach at East Lyme High School. During his tenure at East Lyme, Coach Bernardi’s teams have been the ECC Div. I Regular Season Champions in 2018 and 2019 and this past year claimed the ECC Div I Conference Championship. In 2019 Coach Bernardi was able to develop and coach the CHSCA Player of Year for the State of CT.
Prior to East Lyme, Coach Bernardi held the position of Associate Head Coach at Valley Regional High School from 2009-2014 where he was instrumental in helping lead his teams to the Class S State Finals in 2014, Class S State Champions in 2011 and the Class M State Champions in 2013. Coach Bernardi has coached on the AAU circuit at the National level with the Connecticut Basketball Club at the U16-U17 levels to help athletes with college exposure and has been a Camp counselor with the prestigious Hoop Group camps for the New England Top 100, New York Top 100 and the Academic Elite Camp.
Coach Bernardi currently serves and is an advocate on the committee for Coaches Advancement for Racial Equality (CARE) in CT and in 2016 and 2018 his teams were awarded the Board 8 Howard Dickerman Sportsmanship Award by the regional basketball officials for conduct of his staff and players during games. Coach Bernardi is a Hamilton College graduate where he played all four years and was named captain of his college team during his senior year.
Director of Athletics, Kevin Butler remarks, “It was made very clear during the interview process Coach Bernardi’s attention to detail in coaching, his preparedness on and off the court and his ability for building a positive championship culture within his programs. Jeff is an outstanding role model and will lead our Boys’ Basketball program with enthusiasm, passion and a competitive drive within the FCIAC and at the State level. Jeff is a relationship builder and will be an ambassador for the young men he leads.”
Coach Bernardi will be formally introduced to the members of the Boys’ Basketball program in a meeting before school, Thursday, May 12 at 7:30am in the Auditorium.
