One of the most accomplished defenseman of the past quarter-century is retiring.
Jesse Bernhardt, a two-time gold medalist and three-time U.S. National Team athlete who was named to four professional All-Star teams (2014, 2015, 2018, 2019) and won two pro championships (2013, 2019), is hanging up his cleats. He announced the news Tuesday afternoon.
The 2013 Maryland graduate is the defensive coordinator at his alma mater. He was a two-time captain with the Terps and the ACC's Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2012.
Bernhardt was drafted fourth overall in the 2013 Major League Lacrosse draft by the Chesapeake Bayhawks, then he was selected No. 2 overall in the Chrome in the 2020 Premier Lacrosse League Entry Draft.
One of a long line of standout Maryland defense, Bernhardt is the middle of the Bernhardt brothers who have all left their mark on the game. Their older brother, Jake, also played for the U.S. National Team and helped the team win gold in Israel in 2018. Jared Bernhardt, after a brief stint in football, is back on the lacrosse field as a top offensive option for the Denver Outlaws. He won a gold medal in 2016 with the U.S. U19 team.
