Craig Bere finished his second season at the helm of the University of Southern Indiana volleyball coach after leading his squad to within three points of a second consecutive GLVC Tournament title and trip to the NCAA II Tournament.
Bere's Screaming Eagles finished 2003 with a 21-9 record and an 8-6 mark in the GLVC. Despite finishing fifth in the GLVC regular season standings, Bere rallied his Eagles to the GLVC Championship game, a place the Eagles have now been at for four straight seasons.
During his first season with the Eagles, Bere led USI to a 26-8 overall record, an 11-3 mark in conference play, and USI's first GLVC Tournament crown, NCAA II Tournament appearance, and NCAA II Tournament win.
He is well on his way to becoming the fastest coach in USI history to reach the 50-win plateau, something only two coaches in the program's 24-year history have done. With six wins, he would move into second all-time at USI in victories.
Prior to taking the job at USI, Bere was at Mississippi State University where he had been an assistant coach since 1997. He served as the coordinator of the Bulldog defense and worked closely with MSU's outside hitters on the court. Bere coordinated MSU's recruiting efforts and handled additional administrative duties off the court.
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Bere was a standout four-sport letterman at Doss High School, competing in football, basketball, baseball, and soccer.
Bere attended Morehead State University, where he was a kicking specialist on the Eagles football team and became a member of the men's club volleyball team. His involvement with the club team launched his career as a volleyball coach.
He joined Morehead's varsity women's volleyball coaching staff in 1993, first as an undergraduate and then as a graduate student, before filling a full-time assistant coach position.
While Bere was on the Morehead State staff, the Eagles claimed regular season runner-up honors, captured the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title, and advanced to the 1993 NIVC. In 1995 Morehead State marched to the finals of the OVC Tournament, taking runner-up honors.
A member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association, Bere has served as a camp instructor in summer volleyball camps in Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Michigan.
Bere earned a bachelor's degree in health in 1995 and a master's degree in health, physical education, and recreation in 1997 at Morehead State. He and his wife, Shannon, reside in Evansville.
