Jan. 16, 2003
PITTSBURGH, PA -- - Duquesne University head football coach Greg Gattuso has named former Fairfield University head coach Joe Bernard as offensive coordinator it was announced today. Bernard, who spent the last two seasons as head coach at Fairfield, replaces Mauro Monz who accepted the head coach position at West Virginia Tech last month.
"Having competed against Fairfield in the MAAC, I know firsthand that Joe is a quality coach," said Gattuso. "His teams were always well prepared. He knows what it takes to win at this level. I'm really excited to have someone of Joe's caliber and maturity level on our staff. He will definitely be an asset to our program."
Bernard guided Fairfield to back-to-back third place finishes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League in his two seasons as head coach. Prior to that, the Parsippany, N.J. native served as defensive coordinator for the Stags for five seasons. Under Bernard's tutelage, Fairfield's defense led NCAA Division I-AA in total and rushing defense in 1998 and ranked second nationally in total and scoring defense in 1999. In 1997, the Stags defense was ranked 14th in Division I-AA in pass efficiency. In 2001, the last season Bernard oversaw the defense, Fairfield ranked among the nation's Top 20 in six different categories.
"I'm excited to get to Pittsburgh and be a part of the Duquesne program," said the 39-year-old Bernard. "Duquesne has developed a great winning tradition. I just want to help keep things going in that direction."
Bernard began his coaching career in 1983 as an assistant at Bethlehem (Pa.) Catholic High School. He moved on to Nazareth Area (Pa.) High School, where served as an assistant from 1985 to 1989. Bernard accepted his first head coaching position at Nazareth High School in 1990, where he posted a 37-28-1 record, and captured three Colonial League Championships in six seasons. He was a head coach at the McDonald's All-Star Classic in 1992 and 1994, before moving on to Fairfield in 1996.
Bernard earned an accounting degree from Moravian College in 1985, and added a mathematics degree from East Stroudsburg University in 1988.
THE BERNARD FILE
| 1983-84 | Bethlehem Catholic H.S. (2 yrs.) | Asst. Coach |
| 1985-89 | Nazareth H.S. (5 yrs.) | Asst. Coach |
| 1990-95 | Nazareth H.S. (6 yrs.) | Head Coach |
| 1996-00 | Fairfield University (5 yrs.) | Def. Coordinator |
| 2001-02 | Fairfield University (2 yrs.) | Head Coach |
AS A COLLEGE HEAD COACH
| YEAR | SCHOOL | OVERALL | MAAC (Finish) |
| 2001 | Fairfield | 5-5 | 5-2 (3rd) |
| 2002 | Fairfield | 5-6 | 5-3 (T3rd) |
- Was the second head coach in Fairfield University history
- Led Fairfield to back-to-back third place finishes in the MAAC
- Was Fairfield's defensive coordinator from the program's inception in 1996 through 2001 (his first season as head coach); took over offensive coordinator responsibilities last season
- In 1998 Fairfield led the nation in both total and rushing defense
- In 1999 Fairfield ranked second nationally in total and scoring defense
