Courtesy: Wabash Athletics
Wabash College named Will Bernhardt II as head coach of the Little Giants’ swimming and diving program, Director of Athletics Matt Tanney announced Thursday.
“Will is an experienced intercollegiate head coach with strong ties to swimming in Indiana,” Tanney said. “His holistic commitment to the development of student-athletes will continue to elevate the program. I look forward to his leadership of a motivated and talented group of student-athletes.”
Bernhardt maintains his connection with the North Coast Athletic Conference having served as the head coach at Wittenberg University since 2016.
“I am incredibly honored to be a part of the history and rich tradition of excellence at Wabash College,” Bernhardt said. “It is an exciting time to be a Little Giant and I look forward to leading our men to achieve great things in the classroom, in the pool, and in the community.”
During his two seasons at Wittenberg, Bernhardt’s student-athletes set four new school records and were honored as Scholar All-America teams by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America for their work in the classroom.
Bernhardt previously spent five seasons as associate head coach at the University of Buffalo, where he helped the Bulls capture 34 Mid-American Conference individual championships, 19 MAC relay titles, and set 46 University of Buffalo and 13 MAC records. He also served as a volunteer assistant coach with the women’s program at the University of Notre Dame from 2009 to 2011, assisting the Fighting Irish swimmers to four NCAA qualifying efforts, and 14 Big East Conference individual and relay championships, and 10 school records.
A volunteer assistant coach and interim aquatics director at Northwestern University from 2002-2005, Bernhardt helped the Wildcats earn an individual national championship and 36 All-America honors, capture 12 Big Ten individual or relay titles and set 10 Big Ten and 12 school records.
“I look forward to the challenge of raising our national profile and continuing our strong showing in the conference,” Bernhardt said. “I would like to thank President Gregory Hess and Mr. Tanney for their hospitality while on campus, and the wonderful opportunity to help teach our student-athletes what it means to be Wabash Men. “Our family is excited to return to our home state of Indiana and the opportunity to make an impact on the Wabash community and Crawfordsville, as well.”
Bernhardt graduated from Indiana University in 2002 with a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology. As a swimmier for the Hoosiers, he was a Big Ten finalist in the 100 and 200 backstroke events and qualified for the US Olympic Trials in 2000.
Bernhardt will begin his tenure at Wabash on October 10.