Thursday, October 1, 2026
The United States Merchant Marine Academy’s assistant baseball coach, Lou Bernardi, a new Glen Cove resident, will be inducted into the 2023 class of the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame.
Originally from New Hyde Park, Bernardi has lived in the city for six months, and is well known for his community involvement on and off the baseball field.
Unlike the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, the New York State Hall of Fame, now in its 11th year, doesn’t induct people based on statistics like home runs or strikeouts. It focuses on the legacy and contributions of people in every realm of the national pastime.
“We like people that have distinguished themselves in more than one way,” said Rene LeRoux, the hall’s executive director.“Not just as a pitcher or a catcher or coach, but in a well-rounded baseball sense.”
LaRoux said that the New York Hall of Fame seeks to honor those who have compelling stories but aren’t as well-known as major league baseball players.
“We’re judging them on what they’ve accomplished,” he said, “and that can’t be just measured in numbers.”
The 34-year-old has a longstanding presence in baseball and community service that immediately stood out. Bernardi is a 2011 graduate of New York Institute of Technology, where he was a four-year letterwinner and pitcher for the Bears. Bernardi continued his playing career most notably for the St. George Roadrunners of the Golden Baseball League. In 2021 he was also the college baseball newspaper National Collegiate Athletic Association national pitching coach of the year.
Bernardi is entering his fifth year at the U.S. Merchant Marines Academy at Kings Point and 12th year coaching collegiate baseball. He has been a member of head coach Michael Notebaert’s coaching staff as the Mariners’ pitching coach and recruiting coordinator since the 2019 season.
Bernardi serves in numerous other roles at the Academy, such as the lead advisor of the student-athlete advisory committee, an instructor in the physical education department and a member of the academy’s campus culture committee.
He won the USMMA Athletics’ Power of Inspiration Award and SAAC’s Mark J. Paradiso Service Award, Acess Baseball’s Service to Community Award and was named as an Honorary Member of the National Institute of Leadership and Success.
As the founder and president of Valor Sports, a baseball organization that focuses on player development and community outreach, Bernardi is someone who often attempts to bridge communities and baseball together.
“We provide free youth clinics for inner city kids,” he said. “But what we also do is donate equipment to each of these players.”
Valor Sports provides opportunities to meet with professional baseball players. Bernardi said that Valor doesn’t advertise. Instead, his organization travels to neighborhoods for a more personable approach.
“I’m willing to assist and give back to anybody, not just Glen Cove,” Bernardi said. “If there’s an issue-if there’s a player, or a community anywhere-if we think we can help them we’re gonna help.”
In a partnership with city councilman Kevin Maccarone and Spiro Tsirkas, director of the Glen Cove Youth Services and Recreation, Bernardi was able to help raise funds for new equipment and to revitalize Pascucci Field.
Glen Cove City Councilwoman Marsha Silverman said she’s proud of Bernardi and is happy he’s getting the recognition he deserves for his many contributions.
“He’s not just developing a baseball player; he’s developing people and life skills through sports,” she said.
She feels connected to Bernardi, Silverman said, through their mutual love of sports since she grew up playing softball and tennis.
Bernardi’s giving nature isn’t limited to his youth-oriented baseball programs. Last year, the Glen Cove community came together to support Glen Cove Detective Ted Karousos, after he lost his wife, Nicole Karousos, to cancer. The family endured high medical bills when Nicole was unable to work.
Ted was tasked with being a single father of his two boys, Alexander, and Nicholas. After last year’s award ceremony for Valor Sports, unbeknownst to the community, Bernardi took all proceeds from the night’s event and contributed it to the Karousos family. Glen Cove Police Sergeant Ryan Nardone, a longtime friend of Bernardi and Ted Karousos said he was moved by Bernardi’s kind gesture.
“Unprovoked, he just presented my friend with a check,” said Nardone, adding that the donation spoke volumes about Bernardi’s character. “He’s just always trying to make a difference.”
