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BERNARDO "BERNARDINHO" REZENDEBorn: August 25, 1959 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Enshrined: 2022 Country: Brazil Category: Coach |
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BIOGRAPHY
In the world of volleyball, a landscape shaped by Brazilian greats, there is one name that stands at the top of the mountain. Bernardinho. A player, a coach, a legend.
Born Bernardo Rezende in Rio de Janeiro in 1959, Bernardinho rose through the ranks of Brazilian volleyball as a player, representing his home country on the court for many years in international competitions. With a nickname that means “little Bernardo”, the quality and impact of his game rose above his size in a sport dominated by giants. He competed in two Olympics as a player, earning silver at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
In 1988 he switched from the court to the bench, representing his home country as a technical assistant at the Seoul Olympics. He went overseas to take the helm of the women’s team Perugia and then the men’s team Modena in Italy, before returning home to take over the Brazilian Women’s National Team in 1990. In his first year with the squad, the team took second at the FIVB World Championships and won the FIVB World Grand Prix, which featured fellow 2022 International Volleyball Hall of Fame inductee Fernanda Venturini at setter.
Following a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Bernardinho’s team continued to collect medals in various international competitions. After leading the Brazilian women’s squad to a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, he switched from the women’s side of the sport to the men’s side, to help revive a program that finished sixth at the 2000 Olympics.
The switch proved to be successful, as the Brazilian men’s team captured gold medals in two major international competitions in his first season as head coach in 2001. The squad continued its winning ways, picking up more titles in the FIVB World Championships, FIVB World League, FIVB World Cup and many more. In July 2004, Brazil claimed its fourth FIVB World League title and just a month later, captured the 2004 Olympic Gold in Athens. But he wasn’t done.
During the 2005 season, Bernardinho’s Brazilian men’s team captured four international gold medals, and this success continued for several years. Despite a silver medal finish at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Brazil bounced back to capture three gold medals. The 2010 season saw Berhardinho’s team make history, winning a record ninth FIVB World League title, overcoming a mark previously set by Italy.
The dominance continued, with a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games and a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in front of a raucous home Brazilian crowd as the team swept Italy for the win.
The sheer volume of success that Bernardino has had is astounding. His teams have captured more than 30 major titles, and with 48 team championships, he is considered the most successful team sport coach of all time.
For his unparalleled successes at the helm of both men’s and women’s programs, we are proud to induct Bernardo Rezende - or Bernardinho - into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame as a Coach.
Born Bernardo Rezende in Rio de Janeiro in 1959, Bernardinho rose through the ranks of Brazilian volleyball as a player, representing his home country on the court for many years in international competitions. With a nickname that means “little Bernardo”, the quality and impact of his game rose above his size in a sport dominated by giants. He competed in two Olympics as a player, earning silver at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
In 1988 he switched from the court to the bench, representing his home country as a technical assistant at the Seoul Olympics. He went overseas to take the helm of the women’s team Perugia and then the men’s team Modena in Italy, before returning home to take over the Brazilian Women’s National Team in 1990. In his first year with the squad, the team took second at the FIVB World Championships and won the FIVB World Grand Prix, which featured fellow 2022 International Volleyball Hall of Fame inductee Fernanda Venturini at setter.
Following a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Bernardinho’s team continued to collect medals in various international competitions. After leading the Brazilian women’s squad to a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, he switched from the women’s side of the sport to the men’s side, to help revive a program that finished sixth at the 2000 Olympics.
The switch proved to be successful, as the Brazilian men’s team captured gold medals in two major international competitions in his first season as head coach in 2001. The squad continued its winning ways, picking up more titles in the FIVB World Championships, FIVB World League, FIVB World Cup and many more. In July 2004, Brazil claimed its fourth FIVB World League title and just a month later, captured the 2004 Olympic Gold in Athens. But he wasn’t done.
During the 2005 season, Bernardinho’s Brazilian men’s team captured four international gold medals, and this success continued for several years. Despite a silver medal finish at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Brazil bounced back to capture three gold medals. The 2010 season saw Berhardinho’s team make history, winning a record ninth FIVB World League title, overcoming a mark previously set by Italy.
The dominance continued, with a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games and a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in front of a raucous home Brazilian crowd as the team swept Italy for the win.
The sheer volume of success that Bernardino has had is astounding. His teams have captured more than 30 major titles, and with 48 team championships, he is considered the most successful team sport coach of all time.
For his unparalleled successes at the helm of both men’s and women’s programs, we are proud to induct Bernardo Rezende - or Bernardinho - into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame as a Coach.
