Chris Bernard came to Adelphi in the fall of 1996 after spending one year on the men’s basketball team at Rider University. Prior to that, he was an outstanding basketball player for Thomas Edison High School he lettered all four years, earned First Team All-Queens honors and was voted MVP and team captain.
Over his three years with the Brown and Gold under head coach Steve Clifford, Bernard helped the Panthers to consecutive seasons with 20-plus wins; the team compiled a 63-29 overall record and a 49-17 mark in the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC). Additionally, the squad earned an NCAA Tournament berth each season and won the program’s second conference tournament championship.
During his sophomore year, Bernard posted impressive numbers and had an immediate impact on the team’s success. He pulled down a team leading 246 boards for an average of 8.2 per game and shot over 50 percent from the field. The squad that year registered 21 wins, 17 of which came in conference play, and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament; they bowed out to St. Michael’s College in the first round by a one-point overtime loss.
In the 1997-98 season, Bernard’s junior year, the Valley Stream, N.Y. native shot over 50 percent from the field once again and maintained his scoring average of just over 11 points per contest. Additionally, he eclipsed the 400 rebound mark after grabbing 178 boards. He helped the team to 22 wins and another trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Bernard capped his collegiate career at Adelphi in style. The 1998-99 squad managed another 20-plus win season (21 victories) and won the program’s first conference tournament in a 75-73 double overtime victory against St. Rose. After winning nine of their last 10 games, Bernard and the Panthers used the momentum to propel them past Pace and St. Anselm in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers advanced to the Northeast Region Championship, and found themselves pitted against St. Rose once again; however, they came out on the losing end of a 72-67 double overtime thriller.
The 6-6 forward was named an ECAC All-Star, two-time All-Conference Second Team performer, a NYCAC All-Tournament Team and All-Met selection. Additionally, he was named the All-Met Player of the Year during his senior season. Bernard left his mark on the Adelphi record books as well; he gained admission to the exclusive 1,000 point scorers club with 1,007 career points and ranked seventh at the time of his induction in rebounds with 674.
Upon graduating from Adelphi in 1999 with a degree in business, Bernard became an assistant coach for the Panthers under Jim Ferry for two years; he helped take his alma mater to the NCAA Elite-8 and completed a near perfect season of 31-1 during the 1999-2000 season.
Bernard unexpectedly passed away on January 2, 2025 - he leaves behind his wife Amanda, and children Roman, Jude and Chloe.
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