Bringing more than a decade of Division I coaching experience to the Prairie View men’s basketball program, Keith Berard begins his first season as an assistant coach with the Panthers.
Berard arrives on “The HILL” after a 3-year stint at Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo, CA. With Berard, the Mustangs enjoyed their most wins under John Smith and a first round Big West Conference tournament upset over Long Beach State.
Prior to Cal Poly, Berard served two stints (10 years) at Houston Baptist University (Now Houston Christian University). With Berard, the Huskies enjoyed their most successful year since returning to Division I during the 2016-17 season as HBU finished 17-14 overall and tied for second in the Southland Conference standings with a mark of 12-6. HBU closed the 2016-17 regular season with nine successive wins before being selected for the postseason CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
Berard, also was an assistant coach with Houston Baptist from 2007-2012, served as head JV/Varsity assistant coach at Episcopal HS in Houston from 2013-2016. While an assistant coach at Weber State University during the 2012-13 season, Berard helped the Wildcats to an impressive 30-7 record (Most wins in Big Sky Conference history), 18-2 finish in Big Sky Conference and a second-place finish in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
Berard is no stranger to the SWAC. Prior to his initial stretch with Houston Baptist, Berard was an assistant coach at Texas Southern University, assisting the Tigers to the 2003 Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament title and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Also, a three-year assistant at College of Eastern Utah (Now Utah State-Eastern) and one-year assistant at Howard College. During his only year at Howard, Berard helped the Hawks to a 26-6 overall record, 14-0 undefeated WTJCAC record.
Berard played basketball at Southern Utah University (1993-95) after transferring from two-year Weatherford (Texas) College. Berard earned All American West Conference first team honors in 1995 after helping Southern Utah to the league regular and tournament titles. He ranks among Southern Utah’s all time single season leaders for 3-point percentage, assists and steals.
A Houston native who played at St. Thomas HS, Berard earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Southern Utah in 1996 before embarking on a professional playing career in Switzerland. In the Southern Utah record book, Berard ranks sixth all-time with 149 three-pointers made, top 15 with a 40.9 percent three-point mark, 16th with 188 assists and 24th with 744 points.
Berard and his wife, Sabrina, have two daughters: Katelyn Dion (recent college graduate) and Khloe Dion (senior in HS).
