Lou Bernardi brings professional experience to the diamond, after playing in three professional baseball leagues. The New Hyde Park, NY native spent time with Las Cruses Vaqueros in the Pecos Professional League, the Saint George Roadrunners in the Golden Professional Baseball League, and the New York Federals, a New York Developmental Professional League, in which he was deemed a mid-season all-star in 2010. In 2013, Bernardi served as head coach for the Federals in the Can-Am exhibition series.
Now entering his second season with Iona, Bernardi helped the Gaels reach new levels during the 2017 season as the program earned a MAAC Championship berth for the first time since 2000 and advanced to the Championship Final behind four wins. Part of the success included his mentoring of Jared Finkel, the MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year and MLB draftee for the Minnesota Twins in 2017. The success of the pitching staff also included Bill Maier being named to the All-MAAC Second Team.
Bernardi graduated from NYIT where the right-handed pitcher ranks third all-time in appearances and was awarded the 2010 Harld J. Hirschfield Memorial Leadership Award.
As a coach, Bernardi served as an assistant coach with NYIT and LIU Post. Prior to Iona, he was the pitching coach for SUNY Old Westbury. During his tenure, Bernardi helped lead the program to three straight Skyline Conference Championship games in 2013, 2014, and 2015, ultimately winning and the conference title in 2015. Under his tutelage, ten pitchers were named Skyline Pitcher of the Week, two were named National Pitcher of the week and four pitchers signed professional contracts.
Bernardi also brings a passion for charity sure to benefit the Iona community. He is the Co-founder of Bats for Buddies, an organization setup “to help players and teams in local leagues and internationally acquire the necessary equipment and apparel to play baseball.” In addition, Bernardi served as the Assistant Director for the Special Olympics tournament in Cantiague Park in 2014.
