Sports

Northfield Coaches Corner: Melissa Bernhard

Melissa describes her coaching style as "intense."

Name
Melissa Bernhard 

What sports do you currently coach?
Gymnastics

School 

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When did you realize you wanted to be a high school coach?
I realized I wanted to be a high school coach during my time as the club head coach. I thought about how impactful it could be to build relationships with the kids and see them all the way through their high school years.

If you could meet anyone in the world’s history, who would you meet and why?
Ruth from the Bible—She possesses the character of someone who I aspire to be. Ruth was selfless and had tremendous faith in God. Her morals, work ethic and perseverance blessed her with more than she could have imagined. 

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Who motivated you to become a coach?
Nadalie Walsh. She was an assistant coach my senior year of college. My father was also very influential. His coaching stories and experiences always intrigued me.

What is your favorite quote and who said it?
"Do not follow where the path may lead, go instead where this is no path and leave a trail."—Ralph Waldo Emerson

How would you describe your coaching style in three words or less?
Intense

What do you like most about coaching?
I really enjoy pushing girls to maximize their potential.

How do you like to spend your free time away from sports?
I enjoy horseback riding with my family, snowboarding vacations in Colorado, backpacking and canoeing trips, and love taking "power naps" that end up lasting three hours. Studying the Bible, reading, and working on random projects I create for myself are also ways I spend my free time away from sports.


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