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Providence College Athletics
David Berard Named Associate AD for Men's and Women's Hockey
5/3/2021 10:07:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey, Women's Ice Hockey, Athletic Department
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -  Providence College Athletic Director Bob Driscoll today (May 3) announced the hiring of David Berard as Associate Athletic Director for Men's and Women's Hockey. Berard will provide leadership, management, and administrative oversight to the men's and women's ice hockey programs, as well as day-to-day supervision of Schneider Arena programs and events.  Berard replaces Rico Blasi, who resigned earlier in the month.
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"We are thrilled that David will be returning to Providence College," Driscoll said.  "David has spent almost 30 years working in college hockey, including 20 years playing and coaching at Providence.  He brings a vast knowledge of the game, our program and Providence College to this position. David is a tremendous person, who I trust to oversee our hockey programs on a day-to-day basis."
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Berard spent the last seven seasons as the head coach of the Holy Cross men's ice hockey team.  In 2012-13, he served as the interim head coach of the UConn Huskies and led the team to a 19-10-3 mark.  Berard also had three different stints on the hockey staff at Providence, for a total of 16 seasons.  He was an assistant coach at Providence from 1994-1996 and again from 1998-2011.  He also served as the Director of Hockey Operations for one season in 2013-14.  In total, Berard helped the Friars reach three Hockey East Championship Games, winning in 1996, and compete in three NCAA Tournaments (1996, 2001, 2014). Â
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Berard was instrumental in bringing a number of talented players to Providence; recruiting three AHCA All-Americans, seven Hockey East All-Stars and five Hockey East All-Rookie team selections. Additionally, Berard recruited 23 players who were National Hockey League draft picks, as well as, 10 players that eventually played in the NHL.  Two of Berard's recruits represented the United States at the IIHF U-20 World Junior Championship during his tenure.
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Berard served as the top assistant coach at Lake Superior State University for two years from 1996-1998.  He served as recruiting coordinator during his time with the Lakers, while helping the team to an overall record of 34-32-9.  Berard began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Colby College for two years from 1992-1994, in which he helped the program qualify for the ECAC East Playoffs for the first time in 10 years during the 1993-94 season.
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Throughout his career, Berard has been heavily involved in player development for USA Hockey at the national, district and local levels.  He has coached at numerous USA Hockey National Select Festivals and New England Player Development Camps.  From 2003-2008, Berard served as the Director of Player Development for the New England District.  In the summer of 2004, Berard served as an assistant coach for the USA Hockey Under-17 Select Team, which won the silver medal at the Five Nations Tournament in Germany.  From 2008-2012, Berard was a coach for the USA Hockey Warren Strelow National Goaltending Mentor Program.
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"I am honored to accept the position as Associate Athletic Director for Men's and Women's Hockey," Berard said.  "I want to thank Bob Driscoll for his trust and confidence and for giving me the opportunity to return to Providence College.  I look forward to supporting his vision and working alongside people that I deeply respect and admire.  I am excited to work with Nate Leaman and Matt Kelly, their staffs and players to build on the success of both programs while positively impacting the student-athlete experience."Â
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A 1992 graduate and former goaltender in his playing days at Providence College, Berard was a member of one of the most successful classes to ever wear a Friar uniform, amassing a total of 87 wins over their four-year career. Berard was a member of three teams that reached the Hockey East Championship Tournament and two teams that qualified for the NCAA Ice Hockey Tournament. Prior to attending Providence, Berard was a two-sport athlete at Hendricken High School from 1984-88. At Hendricken, Berard earned All-State honors in hockey and and all-division accolades in baseball. In addition, he earned Most Valuable Player honors in the ice hockey state tournament in 1988.
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Berard is a native of Coventry, R.I.  He currently resides in East Greenwich with his wife, Lynne.  Lynne is a former standout on the Friar field hockey team.  They have two sons, Brett and Brady.  Brett, a fifth round draft pick of the New York Rangers and a freshman on Friar men's ice hockey team, helped Team USA earn a gold medal in the IIHF World Junior Championship in January.  Brady is a forward for the U.S. National Under-17 Team.
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For more updates on the Providence College men's and women's hockey programs, follow the teams on Twitter @FriarsHockey and @PCWHockey.
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"We are thrilled that David will be returning to Providence College," Driscoll said.  "David has spent almost 30 years working in college hockey, including 20 years playing and coaching at Providence.  He brings a vast knowledge of the game, our program and Providence College to this position. David is a tremendous person, who I trust to oversee our hockey programs on a day-to-day basis."
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Berard spent the last seven seasons as the head coach of the Holy Cross men's ice hockey team.  In 2012-13, he served as the interim head coach of the UConn Huskies and led the team to a 19-10-3 mark.  Berard also had three different stints on the hockey staff at Providence, for a total of 16 seasons.  He was an assistant coach at Providence from 1994-1996 and again from 1998-2011.  He also served as the Director of Hockey Operations for one season in 2013-14.  In total, Berard helped the Friars reach three Hockey East Championship Games, winning in 1996, and compete in three NCAA Tournaments (1996, 2001, 2014). Â
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Berard was instrumental in bringing a number of talented players to Providence; recruiting three AHCA All-Americans, seven Hockey East All-Stars and five Hockey East All-Rookie team selections. Additionally, Berard recruited 23 players who were National Hockey League draft picks, as well as, 10 players that eventually played in the NHL.  Two of Berard's recruits represented the United States at the IIHF U-20 World Junior Championship during his tenure.
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Berard served as the top assistant coach at Lake Superior State University for two years from 1996-1998.  He served as recruiting coordinator during his time with the Lakers, while helping the team to an overall record of 34-32-9.  Berard began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Colby College for two years from 1992-1994, in which he helped the program qualify for the ECAC East Playoffs for the first time in 10 years during the 1993-94 season.
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Throughout his career, Berard has been heavily involved in player development for USA Hockey at the national, district and local levels.  He has coached at numerous USA Hockey National Select Festivals and New England Player Development Camps.  From 2003-2008, Berard served as the Director of Player Development for the New England District.  In the summer of 2004, Berard served as an assistant coach for the USA Hockey Under-17 Select Team, which won the silver medal at the Five Nations Tournament in Germany.  From 2008-2012, Berard was a coach for the USA Hockey Warren Strelow National Goaltending Mentor Program.
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"I am honored to accept the position as Associate Athletic Director for Men's and Women's Hockey," Berard said.  "I want to thank Bob Driscoll for his trust and confidence and for giving me the opportunity to return to Providence College.  I look forward to supporting his vision and working alongside people that I deeply respect and admire.  I am excited to work with Nate Leaman and Matt Kelly, their staffs and players to build on the success of both programs while positively impacting the student-athlete experience."Â
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A 1992 graduate and former goaltender in his playing days at Providence College, Berard was a member of one of the most successful classes to ever wear a Friar uniform, amassing a total of 87 wins over their four-year career. Berard was a member of three teams that reached the Hockey East Championship Tournament and two teams that qualified for the NCAA Ice Hockey Tournament. Prior to attending Providence, Berard was a two-sport athlete at Hendricken High School from 1984-88. At Hendricken, Berard earned All-State honors in hockey and and all-division accolades in baseball. In addition, he earned Most Valuable Player honors in the ice hockey state tournament in 1988.
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Berard is a native of Coventry, R.I.  He currently resides in East Greenwich with his wife, Lynne.  Lynne is a former standout on the Friar field hockey team.  They have two sons, Brett and Brady.  Brett, a fifth round draft pick of the New York Rangers and a freshman on Friar men's ice hockey team, helped Team USA earn a gold medal in the IIHF World Junior Championship in January.  Brady is a forward for the U.S. National Under-17 Team.
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For more updates on the Providence College men's and women's hockey programs, follow the teams on Twitter @FriarsHockey and @PCWHockey.
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