Swimcloud

Buffalo Adds Bernhardt to Staff

University at Buffalo men's and women's swimming head coach Andy Bashor has announced the addition of two assistant coaches for the upcoming 2011-12 season. Joining the Bulls will be Will Bernhardt, as an assistant coach, and Jeff Kilner, who will serve in the graduate assistant position.

Bernhardt comes to the Bulls after a successful stint with the South Bend, IN based Irish Aquatics Swim Club since 2005. Bernhardt produced three national and 10 junior national qualifiers. Within the state of Indiana, he coached four senior state champions, 24 age group state champions and a total of 32 high school state finalists. He also served on the Indiana Swimming Board of Directors and was a state and region coaches representative.

Bernhardt has college experience as well working as a volunteer assistant with the Notre Dame women's program from 2009 and Northwestern University's men's and women's teams from 2003-2005. While with the Fighting Irish, he helped produce four NCAA qualifiers, 14 Big East champions, four Big East Championship records, 10 school records and the 2010 Big East Swimmer of the Year, Samantha Maxwell. With the Wildcats, he helped produce an NCAA national champion, 15 NCAA qualifiers, 36 NCAA All-Americans, 12 Big Ten champions, 10 Big Ten records and 13 school records. While in Evanston, he was also the head coach and CEO for the NASA/Wildcat Aquatics club program.

Bernhardt is a 2002 graduate of Indiana University with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology. As a member of the Hoosier swim team, he was a Big Ten Championship finalist in 100- and 200-yard backstrokes in 2000 and 2001 and a 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in both events as a well as a Spring Nationals finalist in both events in 2001.

Kilner joins the UB program after working with swim programs in Delaware. Most recently, he coached the Sea Colony Sharks of Bethany Beach, DE in 2010 and 2011. He also served as a ninth grade physical science teacher at Sussex Central High School in Shelbyville, DE and worked as a science teacher at an international school in Sweden working with sixth and eighth grade students.

As an athlete, Kilner was a member of the Clarion University swim program for four seasons. He was a four-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference meet finalist in the backstroke and individual medley events. He graduated from Clarion in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in education.

"We are excited about Jeff and Will joining our coaching staff," said Bashor. "They are going to be great additions to the staff with their experiences and knowledge of the sport. With Will's club coaching background, he has effectively learned how to teach and train swimmers and his connection to club coaches will be valuable to recruiting. Jeff is a educator and will be getting his master's in education which I believe to be a great quality in a young coach. Both coaches are going to help us achieve our goals of winning conference championships."

UB kicks off the 2011-12 season with the WNY Relays on October 8.

Comments