Nicholls State University

Rob Bernardi enters his eighth season as director of athletics at Nicholls State. With that, he becomes the third longest tenured athletics director in the school[apos]s history behind Ray Didier and Don Landry. Stability, creativity, integrity and progress are the words that best describe Bernardi[apos]s time at the helm of Colonel athletics. Since arriving in Thibodaux, Bernardi has reinvigorated Nicholls athletics by transforming the department into a modern, progressive program aimed at increasing funding, improving facilities and enhancing the student-athlete experience. The California native[apos]s energy has worn off on coaches, student-athletes and members of the support staff. Bernardi helped orchestrate the renewal of a self-assessed student fee to help support Nicholls athletics. It was the first time in more than two decades that student-athletes received funding directly from student fees. The added funding in conjunction with increased private support has helped rejuvenate athletic facilitates and restore a sense of pride in Colonel athletics. Improved facilities and added pride are not the only areas where Bernardi has brought about changes to the athletic program. Improving gradation rates and upgrading the academic services provided to Colonel athletes has been a goal of the department since Bernardi took over eight years ago. The commitment to academics has begun to show positive results in the form of higher graduation rates and improved APR (Academic Progress Rates) scores. Colonel athletes are graduating at increasingly higher rates than ever before. Bernardi is credited with bringing the Manning Passing Academy to Nicholls State University. The football camp, which features Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning, has brought national attention to the Thibodaux community. Entering its fourth year on the Nicholls campus, MPA attracts nearly 1200 young athletes to Nicholls and has become a summer attraction for the community. Bernardi has been active within the NCAA governance structure having served on numerous NCAA committees. Currently Rob Bernardi is a member of the Division I Football Championship Committee and also holds a seat on the NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification. In the past he has served on the NCAA Interpretations Committee and the Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet. Prior to coming to Nicholls, Bernardi spent ten years in varying capacities at the New Orleans-based Sun Belt Conference. During the last three years of his stay, he was the league[apos]s associate commissioner, coordinating and implementing marketing and promotional efforts related to the conference. He also worked hand-in-hand with other conferences, covering such topics as development and corporate relations. His responsibilities also included coordinating the Sun Belt[apos]s voting position on all NCAA legislation. Prior to joining the Sun Belt Conference, Bernardi spent four years at the University of Arizona involved in athletics administration. While at Arizona, Bernardi worked under former NCAA president Cedric Dempsey, Dempsey was the athletics director at Arizona during the time. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Bernardi was a graduate assistant football coach at both the University of Arizona and Oregon State. While at Oregon State, he earned a master[apos]s degree in higher education. He earned an undergraduate degree in public health from California State University, Northridge in 1983. Rob and Linda Bernardi have two daughters Nadine (22), Jenna (11), and are the grandparents of Emma (2). Bernardi[apos]s brother, Gary, is also involved in collegiate athletics serving as an assistant football coach at UNLV.