Steve Bernstein
	Position: Secondary Experience: 3rd Year Alma Mater: Occidental, 1967

Hard to believe but Northern Illinois University secondary coach Steve Bernstein added to his résumé in his first season with the Huskies. And with 36 years in the field, this is a résumé that doesn't stop.

After joining the Huskie staff in February 2003, the NIU secondary boss coached in his 12th major bowl game in helping Joe Novak's club capture the Silicon Valley Football Classic title.

Bernstein's previous collection of bowl game memorabilia includes the 1981 Peach Bowl, 1984 Independence Bowl, 1985 Freedom Bowl, 1986 Blue-Bonnet Bowl, 1988 All-America Bowl, 1990 Citrus Bowl, 1991 Hall of Fame Bowl, 1991 Hancock Bowl, 1994 Sun Bowl, 1995 Sugar Bowl, and 1997 Fiesta Bowl. In that time, his sideline career has had him working in the Pac-10 Conference, Southeastern Conference, Big 12 Conference, Big Ten Conference, Southwest Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, plus the major independent ranks.

Along the way, the 60-year-old Bernstein has been an adjutant to some of the bigger names in the game. He arrived at NIU after three seasons as secondary coach at the University of Arizona under head man John Mackovic (2001-03). Prior to the Wildcats, Bernstein worked with Mackovic as defensive backs coach at the University of Texas (1992-97) and the University of Illinois (1988-91).

He was also an aide to Gerry Dinardo at Louisiana State University (1998-99), Bill McCartney at the Uni-versity of Colorado (1985-87), Bill Dooley at Virginia Tech (1978-84), plus Chuck Mills at both Wake Forest (1973-77) and Utah State universities (1970-72).

A proven recruiter, Bernstein was a key player during a six-year stint when the Longhorns produced Top 20 National Letter of Intent classes--featuring Heisman Trophy recipient (1998) and two-time Doak Walker National Runningback Award winner (1997-98) Ricky Williams, All-America DB Bryant Westbrook, DB Taje Allen, QB and SWC MVP James Brown, All-Big 12 OL Ben Adams, and All-Big 12 DL Shaun Rogers. At Colorado, he also recruited DB Deon Figures--a Jim Thorpe Award winner (1992). Over the years, at least 16 of his former DBs have been drafted by the NFL.

His 1996 Texas secondary limited the opposition to four TD passes--the fewest that season in the Big 12. While Bernstein's last six assignments involved the secondary, he also coached LBs at Wake Forest and Utah State. His career began as a grad assistant at Occidental College in 1966 and continued late in his tenure with the U. S. Marines at Quantico. Bernstein served in the Marines (1967-70) and was a decorated platoon commander in Vietnam.

An All-District Division III runningback at Occidental for head coach Jim Mora as a senior in 1965, he received a bachelor of arts degree in physical education in 1967 and completed work on a master's of science in education from Utah State in 1972.

A three-sport man at Bellflower (CA) High School, he was recognized on the BHS "Wall of Fame" with fellow grad Ron Yary. Bernstein is married to the former Carolyn Maddy of Christiansburg, VA. The couple has a son, Todd, 36.