Ex-Virginia swim coach now Gamecocks assistant

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina assistant Mark Bernardino is glad to be back in the pool coaching, even if it isn’t what the one-time Atlantic Coast Conference championship leader expected at this point in his career.

Bernardino’s Cavaliers dominated the ACC, winning 27 titles from 1978-2013. But Bernardino and Virginia parted ways last year, a split that still stings the longtime coach. After a year attending high school parent meetings and lacrosse games for son, Kevin, Bernardino accepted an offer from Gamecocks coach McGee Moody to become the team’s associate head coach.

Bernardino, 62, says he’s excited about starting this chapter at a program he believes is “ready to explode.” For Moody, the decision to hire Bernardino was a no brainer and he’s glad to have such an experienced coach on hand.