The Coachers Podcast
Welcome to The Coachers Podcast 🤙🏽 — hosted by Keanu Yamamoto.
Each episode features raw, unfiltered conversations with coaches from every level and sport, sharing their real journeys: toughest moments, biggest wins, best practices, and the hard-earned lessons that build tougher athletes, stronger teams, and better leaders. From forging a culture and mental toughness to balancing life beyond the whistle, this is your go-to vault for authentic inspiration on coaching, leadership, and team building. Coaches, athletes, parents, and fans — dive in for stories that unite and motivate across the game. New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe now and join the conversation! ⛳️🗣️
The Coachers Podcast
Coach Gary Bernardi: Coach Um Hard, Respect the Profession, Trust & Loyalty
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I had the privilege to sit down and learn from longtime PAC-12 and Mountain West coach, Gary Bernardi, whose illustrious career spans over 40 years at the Division I-A/FBS level. Coach Bernardi’s resume boasts a wealth of experience, having mentored NFL greats such as Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden and NFL All-Decade Team member Tony Boselli. Coach abides by a simple yet profound coaching code—emphasizing thoroughness, detail, humility, hard work, and player development. His coaching journey began in 1980 at Arizona under Larry Smith, where he coached offensive tackles and tight ends. He followed Smith to USC (1987-1992), working with tackles, tight ends, and special teams. Coach Bernardi spent a decade at UCLA (1994-2003) as an assistant and recruiting coordinator, shaping talent and earning a reputation for his recruiting prowess. His career also includes impactful stops at UNLV, San José State, Colorado, Northern Arizona, and SDSU. Before his college coaching career, Coach Bernardi coached at the high school level in California and briefly served as head coach at John Burroughs High School in 1993. Coach and his wife, Leigh, have three children, including son Joe, an offensive line coach at Western Kentucky.
In this episode of the Coachers Podcast, the conversation delves into Bernardi's coaching journey, philosophy, and the evolution of coaching styles, particularly in light of recent changes like the transfer portal. He emphasizes the importance of building trust and relationships with players, the significance of teamwork, and defining success beyond just wins. Bernardi also shares memorable coaching moments and offers valuable advice for aspiring coaches.
Photo Credit: The Denver Post
Takeaways
Coaching is about building relationships with players.
A good coach must be a good teacher.
Trust between players and coaches is essential.
Success is defined by player development, not just wins.
The transfer portal has changed the dynamics of recruiting.
Teamwork and camaraderie are vital in football.
Coaches should be demanding yet caring.
Toughness is crucial for success in football.
Helping others is a core value in coaching.
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