Bethlehem Catholic announced the hiring of new football coach Joe Bernard this week.

Bernard, a Moravian University graduate, spent the last 11 seasons as special teams coordinator at the University of Albany.

However, he started his coaching career back in the early 1980s, coaching with Becahi legends Chuck Sonon and Bob Stem.

Now, he’ll be the one in charge for the Hawks after former head coach Tyler Ward resigned after two seasons to take another head coaching position in Maryland.

“Bethlehem Catholic High School is proud to announce the appointment of Joseph Bernard as the new head coach of the Golden Hawks football program,” said athletic director Stephen Tomaszewski in a press release. “Joe is a seasoned coach with over 40 years of experience at both the high school and collegiate ranks, and he returns to where his coaching career first began. Bethlehem Catholic High School looks forward to the future of Golden Hawks football under Coach Bernard’s leadership.”

Bernard has led two District 11 programs during his career, leading Nazareth to two Colonial League championships between 1990-95.

He then coached at Stroudsburg for two seasons in 2011 and 2012 where the Mountaineers won back-to-back MVC titles.

Bernard coached at Duquesne, the University of Pittsburgh and Fairfield University, where he was the head coach in 2001 and 2002.

“Coach Bernard brings a wealth of knowledge, stability, passion, and leadership to our football program,” Tomaszewski said. “His experience at both the high school and college levels, combined with his deep understanding of the game and his ties to our school, make him the perfect leader to guide our student-athletes both on and off the field.”