Bernardi staying on with UCLA football...

Bernardi staying on with UCLA football team

When Karl Dorrell took over the coaching reigns of the UCLA

football program last month, many expected him to clean house and get

rid of all of the assistants from the previous administration.

However, although Dorrell has brought in a new group of

assistants, one longtime Bruin mainstay has remained with the

program.

Gary Bernardi -- a former Burroughs High head coach -- is staying

on with UCLA, overseeing the university’s nationwide recruiting

efforts. Last season, the nine-year Bruin coach also worked with the

tight ends and helped with the offensive line and punt-return teams.

Bernardi first became a Pacific 10 Conference assistant in 1980

and has worked previously at conference rivals Arizona and USC.

This past season, UCLA posted an 8-5 record and the Bruins notched

a 27-13 victory Dec. 25 against New Mexico in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Head Coach Bob Toledo was fired Dec. 9 after seven seasons with the

school.

Bernardi, 48, coached at Burroughs for one season in 1993, taking

over a program that went 0-10 and 0-4 in the Foothill League the

previous season. During his tenure, the Indians improved to 5-6 and

earned a spot in the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

Bernardi began his football coaching career in 1973 as an

assistant at Bellarmine-Jefferson.

Pioneers motivated by their stomachs

Winning a championship two weeks ago in the Santa Maria Valley

Christian Tournament might have come about because of the Providence

High girls’ basketball team’s desire for a good meal.

Playing in a championship-round game, the Pioneers were faced with

a dilemma: If they lost the game, they would have to play in a

consolation contest with little time off. However, if they won the

game, they would get a few hours off to take a nap and eat before the

next contest.

“The possibility of not eating and not getting their nap might

have did the trick,” Providence Coach Andrew Bencze said. “Food is

very important to this team.”

The victory also provided a motto for the team for the rest of the

tournament.

“Natalie Guzman made up the saying ‘Win. Eat. Sleep,’ ” Bencze

said. “And that was our motto for the tournament, and we had it

written all over the place, like on our scorebooks.”

Burroughs girls’ team ranked in CIF poll

Fresh from a fine effort in the Ayala Tournament, the Burroughs

High girls’ basketball team is ranked No. 7 in CIF Southern Section

Division IIA.

Jeff Tully