Assistants Nick Kinder
Bernie Hernando
Nick Kinder joined the Wilmington College coaching staff for the 2010 season, but he is anything but a stranger to the WC sideline.
Bernie Hernando is in his second season as an assistant coach for the men’s soccer program. A native of New Jersey and a graduate of Long Island University, Hernando brings an extensive and impressive resume as both a player and coach. Hernando played prep school soccer at St. Benedict’s Prep, in Newark, NJ, arguably the top high school boy’s soccer program in the country. He won state titles in all 3 years with the varsity program as well as being among the top ranked teams nationally by the NSCAA. He won numerous state and regional championships during his youth club days and consistently trained and competed domestically and internationally with various summer select programs including the NJ Olympic Development Program.
Kinder was a four-year mainstay during his career at Wilmington, starting 46 games and playing in 67. The midfielder/forward earned All-OAC and All-Ohio honors in 2009 and was a three-time Academic All-OAC pick. “Nick has been a great addition to our staff. He is very knowledgeable. His knowledge of the game and overall awareness of our program are invaluable,” Wilmington head coach Bud Lewis said. “The players really respect him. He has a nice demeanor that really benefits our team.”
He went on to play collegiate soccer at Long Island University, where as a freshman he was an integral part of the midfield which captured the Northeast Conference Tournament Championship and a berth in the NCAA Division I Tournament. Hernando has coached and trained soccer players since 2001 and comes to Wilmington College after a two-year stint at his alma mater, St. Benedict’s Prep. He worked with all levels of the program emphasizing players to take leadership roles on and off the field and stressed the importance of open communication between player and coach. His main focus was continuing the tradition of developing mature and disciplined players which began when former national team member Tab Ramos brought the program out of darkness in the early 1980’s. The notion of being a mature and disciplined player is the essence of what has brought much success and national recognition to St. Benedict’s Prep for nearly the past 3 decades. In 2010, St. Benedict’s Prep climbed the national rankings as high as #3 by ESPN and #5 from the NSCAA. More recently in 2011, the Benedict’s program swept through the competition allowing 6 goals with 18 shutouts and a final record of 24-0; adding its 7th National Championship as the #1 team in the nation by both ESPN and the NSCAA. Follow us on Twitter: @WCQuakers
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