Plymouth State University

Mike Bernier was elevated to head coach in May of 2022 after serving a year as interim head coach during the 2022 season. He came to the position with more than 25 years of experience coaching softball and baseball at the collegiate, high school and club levels, including multiple stops with the Panthers.
 
Bernier’s squad went 28-16 in 2025, posting the second-most wins in a season in program history. The Panthers won three straight games in the LEC Tournament to advance to the championship for the third time in school history. Despite coming through the winner’s bracket, the team fell twice to UMass Boston to finish as runner up.
 
In 2026, the team won 18 games and posted a 10-6 mark in the LEC, the second-most conference wins in a season in program history, to finish tied for third in the final conference standings.
 
Under his guidance, Kenzie Bessette ’26 earned three-straight All-LEC First Team and All-Region II selections and was named a candidate for the NFCA National Player of the Year as both a junior and senior. She graduated as both the single-season and career stolen-base leader despite playing just three seasons with the Panthers.
 
He also led Allie Cecere ’29 to an outstanding season in the circle. The rookie was named All-LEC First Team, giving PSU two First Team selections for the first time since 2018. Cecere finished the season with an 11-6 record and ranked among the top five in the conference in ERA, innings pitched and wins. Her 11 victories were the most for a first-year pitcher at PSU since 2017.
 
As interim coach in 2022, Bernier guided Plymouth State to a fifth straight appearance in the LEC Tournament. The Panthers rebounded from a loss to UMass Dartmouth by defeating UMass Boston in an elimination game before Southern Maine ended the postseason run.
 
Bernier spent the 2019-21 seasons as PSU's pitching coach and also held positions on the PSU staff during the 2005, 2006, 2015 and 2016 seasons. In 2021, his mentorship helped former Panther Alexis Michon earn LEC Rookie of the Year honors. A year later, Bernier coached Mia Ly ’25 to Rookie of the Year honors to go with All-LEC Second Team and All-Rookie Team recognition.
 
Bernier served as an associate scout with the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball from 1998-2000 and was a hitting and fielding instructor with the Doyle Baseball Academy in the Orlando, Fla., area from 1996-99. He also served as an assistant coach and hitting instructor for NHTI baseball.
 
His softball coaching career took off in 2003 and 2004 when he served as the U12 coach of the New Hampshire Comets, the New England representative at the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) National Championships. He later coached at the U14, U16 and U18 levels with several New England club programs, including the New England Firebirds, New Hampshire Hammer Heads, New Hampshire Elite Softball and New England Fusion.
Bernier also spent six seasons with Bishop Brady High School from 2007-12, helping the team reach the NHIAA Final Four from 2008-10.