Rob Bernardi Named Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations

[SECOER]

https://privateersports.com/news/2026/8/...tions.aspx

[Bill73]

He was a candidate in 2012 for athletic director at UNO. It went to Derek Morel.

[southshore]

Good addition. Very practical working with small budgets.

[Unodad]

Another old dude. This one has worked at ton of schools in the state and has been fired from each one. Not very inspiring hire at all. Everyone already knows this, but the ship is sinking fast, boys!

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[Unofan]

From Unodad: " Another old dude. This one has worked at ton of schools in the state and has been fired from each one. Not very inspiring hire at all. Everyone already knows this, but the ship is sinking fast, boys!"

Since I haven't followed Rob Bernardi's career, and I don't dole out disparaging remarks about anyone based on assumptions, I turned to AI to research his history of being fired from all of his previous positions. When asked if Rob Barnardi was ever fired, the result I received was:

"No, veteran collegiate athletics administrator Rob Bernardi has never been fired during his high-profile career.

Throughout his multi-decade career in sports administration, he has consistently transitioned between roles through planned resignations,contract fulfillments, or upward career moves."

Since I don't totally trust AI, it would be great if you could provide your sources. Thanks.

[Steve]

Yeah I think that claim is a bit dicey; I'm thinking the contention will be that they were all officially resignations but of the "resign or be fired" variety.

I think that's probably true with Nicholls at least.  He had been there 15 years and his tenure had probably run its course.  Not sure I would classify that as a firing for being terrible.

I don't think his tenure at Nicholls was a disaster by any means.  He had a department held together by duct tape and it didn't collapse in on itself.  Not as sexy as winning national titles but perhaps more relevant to our situation.

Full disclosure, I did work with Rob 26 years ago at the Sun Belt and I am biased.  He is a HIGHLY intelligent, sharp dude.  I would say the same about Giorlando, but I realize those traits do not automatically make one a good college athletics administrator.  I understand the complaint that we are building an athletic administration of retreads that aren't hip to the realities of 2026 college sports.  It may have some merit.  On the other hand, I like having a lot of smart guys in the building.

We shall see.

[SECOER]

Just my 2 cents below.  
 
1)   I don't think Giolando has a lot of time to "train up" someone to do what needs to be done so hiring "seasoned" individuals at the higher level of the department would seem to make sense.  
 
2)   Both hires have good backgrounds and I am not sure that I have ever heard that Bernardi was fired.    

3)  This department was decimated the past 2 plus years.    It is not going to recover overnight.   The same with the University.  

4) To say it is sinking fast is questionable.    The campus has a target of 6000 students.   I am not sure what the numbers look like today but if they are nearer to that number and not below 4000 I would think that is a good sign.   
 
5)  There are a lot of things happening on campus with departments being reorganized into functional, manageable components.   It is a logical thing to do and it will take some time to get the right pieces and people in place.    

Fingers crossed.

[Unodad]

Maybe I’m over reacting. Hopefully things work out, but I just don’t see how it can with the additions the university is making.

[SECOER]

Maybe I’m over reacting. Hopefully things work out, but I just don’t see how it can with the additions the university is making. At least this hire wasn’t let go from his previous employer due to sexual harassment charges as did the new CFO.

Again another allegation without legs.   

He resigned and from I got from the article you must be quoting it appears to have been a fishing expedition to get him out.    At least that is the way I am taking it.   
I read the article and several people were quoted that the allegation, place and time, were suspect being that the room was large and there was always more than just a few people in the room.  

https://www.nola.com/news/business/nolab...90beb.html  

Sorry but unless you can provide hard facts that it really happened I would think the way you typed your comment is bordering on libel in my opinion.

[Unodad]

You may be right. I edited my post. But I will say two things: 1) the way things worked out here with that hire smells very very fishy to me & 2) I have never ever been accused of doing something that i didn’t do! Ha 

I’m old and don’t want to die of high blood pressure so I’m signing out and wishing you guys the best.