David Berard was named the 12th head coach in the history of the Stonehill men's ice hockey program in April, 2024.

Berard comes to Stonehill following three years as Assistant Vice President/Associate Deputy Athletic Director for Coaching Excellence at Providence College, bringing eight years of experience as a head coach at the NCAA Division I level. He has a combined 29 years of coaching experience overall, including 19 years as a Division I assistant coach with stints in Hockey East, Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) and Atlantic Hockey. Berard, who has won over 100 games as a head coach, also gained leadership experience with USA Hockey throughout his career.

“We are thrilled to welcome David Berard to Stonehill as our men’s ice hockey head coach and are excited for him to lead our student-athletes as together they build a program that is on the rise,” said Dean O’Keefe, '94, Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics at Stonehill upon his hire. “David’s strong understanding of today’s collegiate hockey landscape, deep appreciation for the coach’s role in mentoring student-athletes on and off the ice, and eagerness to embrace Stonehill’s mission and values made him the ideal candidate for this role.”

“I am honored to be selected as the next Head Men’s Hockey Coach at Stonehill College,” said Berard. “Thank you to (President) Father John Denning and Dean O’Keefe for providing me the opportunity to lead the program into a new era. I am confident with our shared vision, passion and commitment, that we will be successful in building a strong and competitive Division I hockey program. I am excited to start and look forward to the future.” 

Berard served as Head Coach at College of the Holy Cross for seven seasons from 2014-2021. He led the Crusaders to 84 wins, including 74 in Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) play, with three victories against nationally ranked non-conference opponents. Holy Cross enjoyed four consecutive winning seasons in Atlantic Hockey, earning three first round byes in the Atlantic Hockey Tournament.

Berard mentored nine All-Atlantic Hockey selections, two AHA All-Rookie team picks and three Walter Brown Award semifinalists at Holy Cross. Three Crusaders signed professional contracts in the American Hockey League (AHL) and four of Berard’s players attended National Hockey League (NHL) Development Camps. Berard’s teams performed in the classroom, recording a 3.25 team GPA each semester with 118 Atlantic Hockey Academic All-Stars and 12 American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) All-American Scholars. He led the fundraising initiatives for both the men’s and women’s hockey programs at Holy Cross, forming a Hockey Alumni Group for fundraising, mentorship and engagement.

Prior to taking the reins at Holy Cross, Berard was appointed as Interim Head Coach at the University of Connecticut five games into the 2012-13 season after one year as assistant coach. He led the Huskies to its first winning season since 1999-2000 with a 19-10-3 record overall, including 14-7-3 in Atlantic Hockey for a fourth-place finish and spot in the AHA semifinals.

Of his 21 years as an assistant coach, with 19 at the NCAA Division I level, 16 were spent over three stints at Providence, his alma mater. In total Berard helped the Friars reach three Hockey East Championship games, winning the 1996 title, and three NCAA Tournament appearances in 1996, 2001 and 2014. He was instrumental in recruiting talented student-athletes to Providence that included three AHCA All-Americans, seven Hockey East All-Stars and five Hockey East All-Rookie selections. Additionally, Berard recruited 23 NHL draft picks, ten of which would play in the NHL, and two of his recruits represented the United States as the IIHF U-20 World Junior Championship during his tenure.

Berard served as top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at CCHA member Lake Superior State University from 1996-98 after getting his coaching start at Colby College for two years. He has been heavily involved in player development for USA Hockey at the national, district and local levels, serving as assistant coach for the USA Hockey Under-17 Select Team during the summer of 2004 that won the silver medal at the Five Nations Tournament in Germany.

In his administrative role at Providence over the three years, Berard served on the executive staff and leadership team that set strategic direction and priorities and collaborated in decision making in all athletic department matters. He served as mentor for coaching development, providing direct support and guidance for 13 Friar head coaches, served as sport administrator for the nationally ranked men’s and women’s ice hockey programs and was the primary institution representative at Hockey East administrative meetings.

“David’s extensive experience as both a collegiate head coach and assistant coach is impressive,” continues O’Keefe. “His background as a senior athletic administrator, former student-athlete, and parent of two Division I student-athletes, provides him with the unique ability to look through a variety of critical collegiate hockey lenses in his new role.”

Berard, a native of West Warwick, Rhode Island, currently resides in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, with his wife, Lynne, a former field hockey standout at Providence. They have two sons, Brett and Brady. Brett is currently playing hockey professionally in the New York Rangers organization, while Brady recently completed his sophomore season at Providence. David is a 1992 graduate of Providence where he was a four-year letterwinner on the men’s ice hockey team, helping guide the Friars to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances.

What They Are Saying About Coach Berard: 

“We would like to congratulate David on his new coaching position at Stonehill College. He always has expressed that his passion was in coaching, and we are happy that he can fulfill that. David has been a tremendous teammate and colleague to so many of us at Providence College. We believe that David will have success as he builds the men’s ice hockey program at Stonehill. We wish David and Lynne all the best as they will forever be valued members of the Friar family.”
- Steve Napolillo, Providence College Athletic Director 

“David has worked on all sides of successful programs in men’s hockey. His lengthy experience at the Division I level, combined with his passion, vision and skills, will help build Stonehill’s men’s hockey program from the ground up.”
- Nate Leaman, Providence College Men’s Hockey Head Coach 

"This is a great hire for Stonehill. As they look to elevate their hockey program, David Berard is the right coach to help them do that. College hockey is in a better place with David back behind the bench."
- Brian Riley, Army West Point Men’s Hockey Head Coach 

“I am excited for David and the opportunity that lies ahead for Stonehill. David is a passionate teacher, and his knowledge and organizational skills will allow Stonehill to continue to move forward as a Division I program. It is an excellent hire.”
- Paul Pooley, University of Notre Dame Men’s Hockey Associate Head Coach 

"I had the good fortune to work for David early in my career, and that experience helped me develop into the Coach I am today. Congratulations to Stonehill on hiring such a great person to lead their program into the future. David is a relentless worker, who is passionate about what he does, and I am so happy for him to have the opportunity to lead the Stonehill Hockey Program moving forward."
- Brock Sheahan, University of Notre Dame Men’s Hockey Associate Head Coach