Bernard reunites with coaches as GCU staffer

Other than the Grand Canyon head coach, one of the best people to reach players about her highly successful defensive system is the one who defended better than anyone in it.

Daejah Bernard is joining GCU women's basketball as the director of basketball operations, reuniting her with Lopes head coach Molly Miller and assistant coach Buck Scheel after playing for them at Drury. During her career, Bernard won 128 games in four seasons before the COVID-19 pandemic halted top-ranked Drury's 32-0 season at the onset of the 2020 NCAA Division II tournament.

"I feel like it's right to do it for her," Bernard said of joining her first college basketball staff with Miller. "Because she has been pushing this for so long, it wouldn't have felt right to accept a coaching position from anybody else.

"Her and Coach Scheel always tell me, 'Daej, it's a different world than what we're used to.' Walking around campus, it's mind-boggling how big it is and all the different amenities you get going from D-II to D-I."

Since Bernard was a three-time Great Lakes Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Miller has been planting the seed for her to enter coaching. The Exercise Physiology graduate worked in health care after graduation and resumed playing recreationally in a Portland, Oregon, city league this year as the basketball itch returned.

"I have been begging Daejah to join the coaching ranks since the day she graduated, so I couldn't be more excited that the timing is finally right and she is joining our staff," Miller said. "As a four-year starter, I was able to get a front-row seat and watch what she brought to our team in terms of leadership, basketball IQ and competitive spirit.

"She is the best defender I have ever coached and knows the system better than anyone, which is why this is such a perfect fit. She understands great culture, winning ways and what it takes to be successful. Her past experiences will be valuable in this transition and I'm so excited to now call her Coach Bernard."

Daejah Bernard

Bernard, whose number was retired at Drury last year, obliterated the program's career assists record by 133 with 607 assists over her 2016-20 career. She also finished third for career steals with 402, five behind Miller. She holds the single-season records in both categories for the 2018-19 season, one of two seasons in which she was an American Basketball Coaches Association All-America honorable mention.

"Coaching is something I didn't expect, but I'm super-excited for it," said Bernard, a native of St. Joseph, Missouri. "Molly has been harping on it for a few years, so why not hear her out and jump on board?

"I'm more excited to see how everything outside of the basketball court works. As an athlete, you don't see the behind-the-scenes of all the administrative work that coaches have to do so that you can just go out and perform. I'm super-interested about being on this side to learn a different perspective."

Bernard replaces Dajae Black, who became an assistant coach for Akron this month. Black joined GCU as a graduate assistant in 2020 and was promoted to director of basketball operations last year.

"We want to thank Coach Black for her dedication to the program while serving as director of basketball operations at GCU," Miller said. "The opportunity to advance her career as a Division I assistant is a testament to her hard work and positive impact in our program. She will be missed, but we are so proud and happy for her and will be cheering her on from Phoenix."

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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