Bernard helps institutional leaders navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of college athletics, from governance and financial sustainability to student-athlete well-being, with the perspective of someone who has led one of the most complex and successful programs in the country.
About Bernard
When Bernard retired from his role as the Jaquish & Kenninger Director of Athletics (AD) in 2025 at Stanford University, he left behind one of the most decorated stretches in the department's history with 33 NCAA championships, 46 national titles overall, and 143 conference titles, all while maintaining a 98% graduation rate across the program and a perfect 100% for 21 varsity teams. That combination of winning and graduating at the highest levels isn't accidental; it's the product of a deliberate philosophy that Bernard has carried throughout his career and now brings to his work with clients at Huron.
Before Stanford, Bernard spent nearly 25 years building his reputation as an administrator across a range of institutions, including the NCAA, Auburn, Butler, Notre Dame, Georgetown, and Delaware, where he served as AD from 2009 to 2012. His arrival at Stanford in 2012 as the seventh Director of Athletics in school history preceded eight Learfield Directors' Cup championships and six NCAA titles in a single year (2018-19), matching the school's own all-time record. He also led the department through consequential structural shifts, from launching an in-house name, image, and likeness (NIL) General Manager position to overseeing a major facilities modernization campaign and Stanford's transition from the Pac-12 to the ACC.
Bernard's national leadership has been equally active. He chaired the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee during the 2018-19 tournament cycle, was appointed chair of the USOPC Collegiate Advisory Council in February 2023, and has served on both the USA Basketball Board of Directors and the NCAA Gender Equity Task Force.