U-M Olympic Sprinter, Coach Kent Bernard Passes Away at Age 82
2/20/2025 2:46:00 PM | Men's Track & Field
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Former University of Michigan sprinter, assistant coach and Olympian Kent Bernard (1942-2025) has passed away at the age of 82.
He passed away at the home of friend and Olympic teammate Edwin Skinner in Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday (Feb. 19).
A sprinter for the Wolverines from 1963-65, Bernard is a four-time Big Ten individual champion and a two-time All-American. He represented Trinidad and Tobago in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, where he was a 400-meter run semifinalist and a 4x400-meter relay bronze medalist. Bernard was inducted into the Michigan Men's Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2007.
Following his time as a U-M student-athlete, Bernard returned to the program in 1977 as an assistant coach working with the sprinters and hurdlers until 1999. He coached student-athletes to 10 individual All-America citations, one relay All-America citation, three individual national championships, and 22 Big Ten individual championships. During his tenure on the coaching staff, the Wolverines earned eight Big Ten team titles and seven Big Ten runner-up finishes.
In 2018, Bernard was awarded Trinidad and Tobago's Hummingbird Medal for his contributions to sports.
"The Michigan Track and Field Family is extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former Michigan student-athlete and coach Kent Bernard. 'KB' was an amazing student-athlete while at Michigan, who went on to win an Olympic bronze medal in the 1964 Olympic Games, and then return to Michigan in a coaching capacity to mentor the next generations of great Michigan athletes. Having been fortunate enough to have been a student-athlete during KB's coaching tenure, I can attest to the great care he had for his athletes and the pride he held in his heart for Michigan Track and Field. I know when we return to Penn Relays this spring, we will feel his presence when we walk by his traditional seat on the backstretch of Franklin Field. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this challenging time." -- Kevin Sullivan, Director of Track & Field/Cross Country
