Jared Bernhardt is in his first year as an assistant coach for the Florida Gators in 2025-26, having been hired by Head Coach Amanda O'Leary in July 2025.
Bernhardt comes to Florida with a decorated background in lacrosse and football, as he currently plays in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) for the Denver Outlaws, who he signed with in June of 2025.
A native of Longwood, Fla., Bernhardt played college lacrosse at the University of Maryland from 2017-2021, where he totaled 290 points on 202 goals and 88 assists (second all-time in Maryland history in points and goals), appearing and starting in 76 of 76 games. Bernhardt was a four-time All-American in College Park and won the Tewaaraton Award in 2021 (one of-three Terrapins to win the Tewaaraton), while being a finalist in 2019. He started all 19 games as a freshman in 2017, helping the Terrapins win a National Championship.
Bernhardt's 71 goals in 2021 are a single season program record at Maryland and his 18 goals and 24 points in the 2021 NCAA Tournament are both the most in a single NCAA Tournament.
After his time at Maryland, Bernhardt went on to play football at Division ll powerhouse Ferris State as a Graduate Transfer. Bernhardt earned the spot as the Bulldogs starting quarterback and led the team to a 14-0 season, in route to the programs second NCAA National Championship. He accumulated 1,322 passing yards and 11 touchdowns through the air, while rushing for 1,421 yards and scoring 26 touchdowns on the ground. He earned Conference Player of the Year.
Following his season at Ferris State, Bernhardt signed with the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL in April of 2022 as an undrafted free agent. He scored the game-winning touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the preseason on Aug. 12, 2022, earning himself a spot on the 53-man roster. He medically retired from the NFL in May of 2023.
In the summer of 2023, Bernhardt returned to his Alma Mater to serve as the Director of Player Development for the men's lacrosse team, where he spent the 2024 season with Maryland.
The 27-year-old made a return to football in the Canadian Football League when he signed with the BC Lions in September of 2024, where he was apart of the practice roster until May of 2025.
Bernhardt's Timeline
| Career History |
Years |
| Maryland lacrosse player |
2017-2021 |
| Ferris state football quarterback |
2022 |
| Atlanta Falcons wide reciever |
Aug. 2022 – May 2023 |
| Maryland Director of Player Development |
2024 season |
| BC Lions football player in CFL |
Sept. 2024 – May 2025 |
| Denver Outlaws player in PLL |
2025 – Pres. |
| Florida lacrosse assistant coach |
2025 – Pres. |
