Leah Bernier

Leah Bernier is the Women's Head Volleyball Coach at Gettysburg College.

Bernier begins her 14th season as the head coach of the Gettysburg volleyball program in 2023. Bernier served as the interim head coach in 2010 following two years as an assistant on the Bullets’ staff.

As the head coach, Bernier has guided the Bullets to a 230-130 overall mark, including a 68-52 record in the Centennial Conference. The Bullets have competed in the conference playoffs six times under her direction. In her second season at the helm, she guided the team to a 19-11 overall record and a second-place showing at the conference tournament. In 2017, the team went 20-8, marking its first 20-win season in 11 years, and in 2018, the squad recorded a winning mark of 17-7 overall.

The 2022 team made it back-to-back tournament appearances and recorded a 21-6 overall mark for the most wins in a single season since 2005 and best winning percentage (.778) since the 2004 squad went 28-6 (.824).

As head coach, Bernier has mentored 25 All-CC performers, including first-teamers Nicole Burns ’11 (2010), Katie Wilson ’13 (2012), and Zanze Kuba-McCoy ’24 (2021 and 2022). Additionally, the Bullets have shined in the classroom with seven consecutive nods as an AVCA Academic Team.

In 16 total years on the volleyball staff, Bernier has helped Gettysburg post a 257-150 record and qualify for the conference playoffs eight times. The Bullets finished conference runner-up in both 2008 and 2009 with Bernier serving as an assistant coach.

Bernier, who is a certified personal trainer, also serves as Wellness Program Coordinator and Director of Student Fitness at Gettysburg. In these positions, she oversees various activities to help maintain the health and well-being of the campus community, including fitness programming in the Jaeger Center for Athletics, Recreation, and Fitness.

Bernier has a wealth of experience coaching volleyball over the last 19 years. She has guided multiple club teams ranging from ages 12-18 and she served four years as a graduate assistant at both The Community College of Baltimore County Catonsville and the University of Maine.

Formerly Leah Voss, Bernier played both volleyball and soccer at nearby Gettysburg High School. On the court, she was named the conference player of the year, a first-team all-conference pick, and her team’s MVP as a middle hitter. On the soccer field, Bernier was also an all-conference selection as a defender.

After spending two years at Baltimore Community College-Catonsville, where she was a two-time first-team all-conference selection and the team’s MVP, Bernier transferred to NCAA Division I University of Maine. In just two years as a Black Bear, she set new standards on the volleyball court, breaking the school’s all-time records for kills and digs en route to America East Conference Player of the Year honors in 2001. Bernier was a two-time first-team All-AEC honoree, and two-time team MVP, and closed her career as a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Northeast Region First Team.

Bernier graduated from Maine with a degree in communications in 2002 and is currently at work on a master’s from her alma mater in exercise science.

Career Highlights

• • Served as interim head coach in 2010 being named to full-time post (14th season)
  • Six Centennial Conference tournament appearances, including 2011 runners-up
  • Coached 25 all-conference performers
  • AVCA Academic Team for seven consecutive years (2015-21)
  • Notched 200th career win in 3-0 CC tournament first-round win at Dickinson
  • Assistant Coach on Bullets staff in 2008 and 2009.