Joe Bernardi was named San Jose State University's offensive line coach in January 2017. He added the title of run game coordinator in January 2018. Bernardi came to the Spartans after spending the 2016 season as the tight ends coach at Fresno State.
In his first season at San Jose State, Bernardi had a senior-dominated offensive line. Guards Jeremiah Kolone and Chris Gonzalez signed National Football League contracts with the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings as undrafted free agents. Tackle Nate Velichko was a National Football Foundation (NFF) Campbell Trophy semifinalist and was inducted into the NFF's Hampshire Honor Society.
Bernardi is a second-generation college football coach. His dad, Gary Bernardi, is in his 41st season as an assistant football coach, sixth season at the University of Colorado and was the Spartans' offensive line coach from 2010 through 2012. The Bernardis are the second multi-generation football coaches at San Jose State after former assistants Mike Quinn (1976-78) and current New York Giants special teams coach Tom Quinn (1999-2001).
In his rapidly ascending coaching career, Bernardi has experiences in the SEC, the Pac-12 Conference, the Mountain West and the pursuit of College Football Playoff (CFP) national championship to San Jose State.
Bernardi began his coaching career at the University of Tennessee in 2011 as the offensive line quality control coach. He assisted in all phases of coaching and recruiting offensive linemen and tight ends. In his second season, the 2012 Volunteers led the SEC and finished fifth nationally for fewest quarterback sacks allowed per game (0.67).
During the 2013 through 2015 seasons, he was a graduate assistant at the University of Oregon assisting with the offensive line and tight ends. He coached four first-team All-Pac-12 offensive linemen while with the Ducks. Oregon won 33 games; was ranked ninth, second and 19th, respectively, in the final Associated Press polls; and played in the first College Football National Championship game against Ohio State in 2015.
The 2010 Fresno State graduate majored in communications and was a member of the Bulldogs football team during the 2006 through 2010 seasons. The offensive lineman started in 32 games and was part of four Fresno State teams that played in a bowl game. Bernardi was named to the Rimington Award Watch List for the best center in college football twice during his playing career. In his 2010 senior year, he received the Paul Schechter Award for Courage given annually to a Fresno State student-athlete who overcame a physical challenge to become a champion.
He and his wife, Lindsey, were married in June 2017 and have a daughter, Quinn.
| Joe Bernardi Facts |
| Born: March 6, 1987 in Tucson, Ariz. |
| 2018 San José State University offensive line coach/run game coordinator |
| 2017 San José State University offensive line coach |
| 2016 Fresno State tight ends coach |
| 2013-15 University of Oregon graduate assistant |
| 2011-12 University of Tennessee quality control coach -- offensive line |
| POST SEASON PARTICIPATION |
| 2016 Alamo Bowl |
| 2015 College Football National Championship |
| 2015 Rose Bowl |
| 2013 Alamo Bowl |
| 2010 Humanitarian Bowl (player) |
| 2009 New Mexico Bowl (player) |
| 2008 New Mexico Bowl (player) |
| 2007 Humanitarian Bowl (player) |
| THEY PLAYED FOR COACH BERNARDI |
| Pharaoh Brown, TE, Oakland Raiders, second NFL season |
| Jake Fisher, OT, Cincinnati Bengals, fourth NFL season |
| Zach Fulton, OL, Kansas City Chiefs, fifth NFL season |
| Hroniss Grasu, C, Chicago Bears, fourth NFL season |
| Ja'Waun James, OT, Miami Dolphins, fifth NFL season |
| Kyle Long, OG, Chicago Bears, sixth NFL season |
| Mychal Rivera, TE, played five NFL seasons |
| James Stone, C, Oakland Raiders, fourth NFL season |
| Chris Gonzalez, OL, Minnesota Vikings, 2018 NFL undrafted free agent |
| Jeremiah Kolone, OL, Los Angeles Rams, 2018 NFL undrafted free agent |
| Antonio Richardson, OL, played one NFL season |
| Dallas Thomas, OL, played five NFL seasons |