Florida lacrosse announced Jared Bernhardt as its assistant coach Tuesday afternoon. He joins assistant coach Haley Hicklen and head coach Amanda O’Leary among the Gators' coaching staff.
Bernhardt has extensive experience as an athlete in both lacrosse and football. The Longwood, Florida, native returns to his home state and spoke of his excitement to work at UF.
"To grow up in this state and now work at a great university like Florida, I am super appreciative of this opportunity,” Bernhardt said to floridagators.com. “I cannot wait to get started.”
He currently competes in the Premier Lacrosse League as a midfielder for the Denver Outlaws, where he signed earlier this year. He has played four games in the PLL so far and scored seven goals while putting up two assists.
In college, Bernhardt was a standout attacker for Maryland lacrosse. He won a national championship in his freshman season, was the Tewaaraton Award recipient in 2021 and a four-time All-American.
He finished his collegiate career as Maryland’s all-time leader in goals and points with 202 and 290, respectively.
Bernhardt is also a decorated football player. He played Division II football as a graduate student at Ferris State, where he served as the starting quarterback for the team during its perfect season and won its first national championship in 2021.
Bernhardt later signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent and played as a wide receiver for one season before medically retiring.
In 2024, he returned to Maryland to work for the men’s lacrosse team as Director of Player Development. He was on staff for one season.
Bernhardt spent the last year playing in the Canadian Football League before signing with Denver in June. He joins a Florida team that finished its season 20-3 with a Big XII Championship and Final Four run.
Contact Nicole Lopez at nlopez@alligator.org. Follow her on X @lopeznicole715.
