Little East Conference recently issued the following announcement.
Interim softball coach Mike Bernier received a vote of confidence on Tuesday as Plymouth State University Director of Athletics Kim Bownes announced his promotion to head coach.
Bernier, who was inserted into the interim role following the resignation of former head coach Bruce Addison prior to the start of the season, has extensive history coaching both softball and baseball at the collegiate, high school and club levels for more than 25 years, including multiple stints with the Panthers.
"We are very excited to name Mike Bernier as our head softball coach," said Bownes. "He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, and I look forward to seeing him transform the program in his image."
"I want to thank Kim Bownes and [Associate Athletic Director] Courtney O'Clair for the opportunity to represent Plymouth State University and the softball team over the last season," said Bernier. "I appreciate their continued trust and confidence to promote me from interim to head coach. I would also like to thank my assistant coaches for stepping in on short notice and helping promote positive energy and enthusiasm for the sport while ensuring a unified staff. Moving forward, we will continue to strive for success on the field and in the classroom while competing for an LEC Championship each and every year. A vital component of that is for me to be a multidimensional coach who works to achieve the overall development of our student-athletes."
Under Bernier's guidance, Plymouth State returned to the Little East Conference (LEC) Tournament for a fifth straight season this spring. UMass Dartmouth walked off with a 2-1 in over the Panthers in the tournament's opening game, but PSU rebounded to knock out UMass Boston with a 4-3 win to advance to day two. PSU's run came to an end in a 6-2 setback to second-seeded Southern Maine.
The Panthers picked up multiple postseason honors as Bernier's tutelage led to freshman Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) earning LEC Rookie of the Year, All-LEC Second Team and All-Rookie Team honors. Senior Lauren Archambault (Rehoboth, Mass.) was selected to the All-LEC First Team and freshman Madison Pelletier (New Gloucester, Maine) joined Ly on the All-Rookie Team.
Plymouth State also claimed the Rookie of the Year following the 2021 season, as Bernier's mentorship helped former Panther Alexis Michon (Montville, Conn.) take home the honors. Michon, who transferred home to Eastern Connecticut State University following her freshman season, is the staff ace for the #3 team in the country. Bernier served as pitching coach from 2019-2021 and held positions on the PSU staff during the 2005, 2006, 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Bernier served as an associate scout with the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball from 1998-2000 and was a hitting and fielding instructor with the Doyle Baseball Academy in the Orlando, Fla. area from 1996-1999, also getting his feet wet in collegiate athletics as the assistant coach and hitting instructor for NHTI baseball.
Bernier's softball coaching career took off in 2003 and 2004 when he served as the U12 coach of the New Hampshire Comets, the New England representative at the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) National Championships. He spent time as head coach of the New England Firebirds at the U14 and U16 levels, finishing as Massachusetts state runner up in 2007, and worked with the New Hampshire Hammer Heads and New Hampshire Elite Softball at the U18 level.
His New England Fusion U16 team was New Hampshire State Champions and won the Rhode Island National Qualifier in 2017, then took home the title at the Connecticut Tradition Tournament in 2018. Bernier also spent the 2007-2012 seasons with Bishop Brady High School, helping the team to the NHIAA Final Four from 2008-2010.
Plymouth State wrapped up the season with a 13-23 record.
Original source can be found here.
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