Podcast: How coach Jake Bernhardt has helped transform Colby

Colby coach and Whipsnakes midfielder Jake Bernhardt joined host Kyle Devitte on the "Chasing the Goal" podcast. (PLL Photos)

On this episode of New England Lacrosse Journal’s “Chasing The Goal” podcast, host Kyle Devitte talks with Colby College head coach — and Maryland Whipsnakes midfielder — Jake Bernhardt.

Bernhardt is entering his second year as the coach at Colby. Last season he led the Mules to a 6-8 record, and two NESCAC wins, after taking over in January.

Prior to Colby, Bernhardt was the offensive coordinator at Maryland, helping that team to a 10-4 record and a No. 4 national ranking entering the NCAA tournament. He also served as the associate head coach at  Vermont, where he helped the Catamounts win two America East championships.

A graduate of the University of Maryland, Bernhardt’s collegiate career included being a two-time NCAA runner-up and team captain. He has gone on to play professionally in the MLL and the PLL, most recently leading the Whipsnakes to the PLL title game in September.

Watch the full podcast below on YouTube. It’s also available on all major podcast platforms. If you enjoy it, please leave a rating and a review. Watch more episodes on the Chasing the Goal podcast channel.

Kyle Devitte: Let’s talk a little bit more about Colby last season. You go 6-8, which I think to a lot of people might look like a rough season, but that team was really so much better than it was in previous seasons. What do you think you did specifically to change that trajectory in your first season?

Jake Bernhardt: I was not a part of the “non-traditional” season, the 10 (fall) practices that you do get in the NESCAC. When I officially signed the contract and they had already been done with the fall season. I didn’t get here officially until early January. And then, you have the month of January to plan and then the month of February to practice. So, we were trying to get on the same page for a month there before playing any conference opponent, which started with Wesleyan.

That’s just the way that NESCAC works; you’re really getting thrown right into the fire pretty quickly against a really competitive team. It was definitely a learning experience for everybody, including myself, and it wasn’t easy getting to learn every single guy with 50 new faces. Then you have to teach them how to play lacrosse how you would like it to be done or how you believe is the most proper way, and you’re trying to cram it all in with no scrimmages. You’re really just hoping for the best when you play; roll out the balls in that first game and see if you can put something together there.

So, for us, my goals were trying to be realistic. We’re just trying to keep games competitive, stay in the games, compete and handle some adversity. If we can come out on top, great. If not, at least try to make it a closer game than what it was and, historically, look at where the program had been prior.

Kyle Devitte: You know what I would love to see? I would love to see turnovers matter again. Because every time I talk about turnovers with anybody, they’re like, “Well, yeah, but the shot clock.” And I’m like, “No, you have to be disciplined — a turnover is still a turnover.” It’s just one of those things where I don’t want to be negative, and I’ve been accused of this a lot — but why don’t turnovers matter anymore? What is your stance on them as a stat? Do you think it has any impact on player value or how to win games?

Jake Bernhardt: You’re talking to the wrong guy. They matter to me, so I don’t know where that’s from, but they matter to me. The plus/minus, and keeping track of a player’s ability to either help or hurt the team, makes a difference on when they should be on the field or not be on the field. They can’t be a home run hitter every single time because unless you have an impenetrable defense, you can’t live and die by that type of play.

So (turnovers) definitely matter to me in our program. I think a lot of that will hopefully decrease when you bring in some better players over time; you have the skills to diminish those. But, they’ll make or break a game. One turnover will make or break a game. One failed clear will make or break a game.

So, we practice riding clear all the time because of that. And that’s a (Maryland) coach (John) Tillman staple. How much time we used to spend on riding and clearing at Maryland, we do the same thing here. We are just making sure we can try to prepare our guys for those moments.

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