Celebrating senior day last Sunday, the graduating seniors of the Virginia swimming and diving teams came one step closer to leaving their collegiate swimming careers behind. Though the majority will cease to swim competitively, they will find that the wisdom Virginia head coach Mark Bernardino has been imparting on them during these past four years -- and on past swimmers for 30 years now -- is applicable far beyond the pool deck.
Indeed, Bernardino himself is an ideal alumnus of the Virginia swimming and diving team. After graduating in 1974 with six program records and the 1974 U.Va. Male Athlete of the Year Award, he returned to his alma mater two years later. While earning his master's degree in counseling from the Education School, Bernardino served as an assistant swim coach before being named head coach in 1978.
"The best part of my day every day is when I get to go to practice and be with the team and help them reach their goals," Bernardino said. "I think when you wake up every morning and you are thrilled to go to work and you love your job and are passionate about what you do, what better situation could anyone have in life?"
That passion and energy has kept Bernardino at the helm of Virginia swimming for the past 30 years. Over the course of those three decades he has led the Cavaliers to 15 ACC titles, including eight consecutive men's titles from 1999-2006.
Earning the ACC Coach of the Year Award 22 times, Bernardino has coached more than 100 All-Americans and three NCAA champions, not to mention World University Games medalists, Pan American medalists, World Championship finalists and seven Olympians.
Currently, College seniors Ryan Hurley and Pat Mellors are looking to become Bernardino's eighth and ninth Olympians. With Bernardino's support, the two decided to redshirt the 2007-08 season to focus on this summer's Olympic trials.
"He is a very passionate person and a passionate coach -- plus he is a really good motivator," Hurley said. "He cares about his swimmers -- he is there on deck pushing you to go harder, and you don't always find that with swim coaches."
On a more personal note, Hurley attributes much of his growth as a swimmer to Bernardino's tutelage and his sometimes tough-love approach.
"Personally, he has helped me a lot; we have a really good relationship and he keeps me in line," Hurley said. "He makes me work hard and keeps me in check -- exactly what I need sometimes."
Bernardino's accomplishments at Virginia have made him a sought-after coach. While he has led teams at the international level, such as the 2001 USA World University Games Team, attempts by other colleges to lure him away have proven futile.
"I truly believe in the mission of this University -- which is to produce outstanding young men and women who make a difference in the world when they leave here," Bernardino said. "I want to recruit student-athletes, not just athletes."
Always modest, Bernardino insists that the program's exceptional success is the work of his swimmers. Nevertheless, clearly he excels at recognizing and recruiting the right kind of athletes -- looking beyond stopwatch times and focusing on an individual as a whole.
"My athletes are thoughtful and respectful of each other, of their coaches and of their peers here at the University -- if anyone crosses those lines they are going to know that it is not tolerated, appreciated, wanted or needed," Bernardino said. "Maybe that's a little old-school relative to today's youth, but I think it produces the right kind of person."
And, as for retirement, it is the furthest thing from Bernardino's mind.
"I don't think about not doing this -- I only think about doing it better than I am doing it today," Bernardino said. "My primary goals really are just to be a really good father, a really good husband and a really good coach. Obviously it would be wonderful to win a national championship, but if it doesn't happen I can still go to bed at night knowing that I did the best I could"
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