Valparaiso University Football Camps

Crusader Football Camps

Stacy Adams and Staff

Stacy Adams

Stacy Adams was named the head coach of the Valparaiso University football program on July 27, 2005. He is the 15th head football coach in Crusader history, and just the sixth leader since 1946.

Adams, who joined the Valpo staff prior to the 1991 season led the Crusaders to a 5-6 record in 2007, the most wins for a Valpo program since 2004.

He kicked off his head coaching career with a victory at Wisconsin Lutheran, 17-3, on September 3, 2005, a game which saw Crusader running back Jeff Horton set the school’s single season rushing record. In his first season on the sidelines, Adams went .500 on the road with a 3-3 mark. Directing the offense as well, he helped Horton set Valpo’s single season rushing mark as well.

Year two saw the Crusaders suffer several key injuries, yet under Adams guidance continued to battle and be competitive throughout the year. Adams earned his first home coaching victory against Aurora, 20-7, to close out the 2006 season. During that season, Adams saw Horton become the school’s career rushing leader.

In his third season, Adams moved Valpo closer to the .500 mark, including wins in three of the first four contests of the year.

As a head coach, Adams has already guided 19 All-Pioneer Football League selections, including seven members of the league’s First Team. In his first season, 2005, record-breaking running back Jeff Horton also earned NCAA 1-AA Mid-Major All-America Team honors from Don Hansen’s Football Gazette. Five individuals have earned Academic All-PFL accolades as well for the Brown and Gold.

As an assistant, Adams guided the 2003 Pioneer Football League champion offense that shattered a plethora of Valpo passing, receiving, total offense and scoring records. The 2002 offense, also guided by Adams, set several records that were re-broke in 2003. The Crusaders led the PFL in passing offense (319.0 ypg), ranking 2nd in the nation in that category. The 2003 squad also finished 2nd in the PFL and 6th nationally in total offense (447.5 ypg) and 3rd in the PFL and 12th among all NCAA I-AA teams in scoring (33.8 ppg). Adams coached First Team NCAA I-AA Mid-Major All-America quarterback David Macchi, who eclipsed 10 offensive records in 2003.

During the Pioneer Football League championship season in 2000, Adams guided an opportunistic offense which averaged 25.0 points per game. The Crusaders scored 20 or more points in nine of the 11 games in 2000. Adams tutored Valpo's quarterback, who earned PFL Offensive Player of the Week honors four times. In 1999, Adams directed an offense which averaged 26.4 points per game, an improvement of over five points from 1998. Adams, the running backs coach for five seasons, was instrumental in Valpo's improved rushing attack, which increased its yards per carry average each season.

A native of Gary, Ind., Adams played two seasons at quarterback for at Joliet Junior College in 1985 and 1986 after graduating from Lew Wallace High School.

After earning an Associate of Arts degree from Joliet JC in 1987, Adams finished his playing career at Northwest Missouri State, where he played quarterback, running back, and outside linebacker in 1988 and 1989. In 1989, Adams was a member of NWMSU's NCAA Division II playoff team. He graduated from NWMSU in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts in physical education. Adams earned his master’s degree in education at Valparaiso in 1997.

Stacy married his wife Donna in 2004 and they had their first son, Jaden, together in December, 2005. The couple resides in Valparaiso. Adams also has two stepsons, Richie and Aaron.

Sam Bernardi

Sam Bernardi returned to the Valparaiso sidelines for the second time in his career prior to the 2006 season as the Crusaders associate head coach. A member of the Crusader coaching staff from 1991-2004, he stepped away from the game of football for the 2005 season.

The Crusaders’ defensive coordinator, Bernardi also oversees the linebacking corps for the Brown and Gold. He was promoted to associate head coach in 1999 after being named the defensive coordinator beginning in the 1995 season. In addition, Bernardi serves as the program’s recruiting coordinator.

Bernardi’s defense played an integral role during Valpo’s Pioneer Football League championship seasons of 2000 and 2003. The 2003 defense led the league in sacks and ranked third in pass efficiency defense. In 2004, Valpo led the PFL in passing defense.

Throughout his tenure on the staff, Valpo’s defense has been dominant. The Crusaders led the PFL in total defense and rushing defense in 2000, while the 1999 squad tied for the top spot in NCAA I-AA in turnover margin. That same season, Valparaiso led the PFL in rushing defense while the 1998 team led the league in total defense, turnover margin, and pass efficiency defense.

Prior to being named the defensive coordinator, Bernardi guided the secondary and special teams for the Brown and Gold for four seasons. He had a major impact in the area of special teams, which enjoyed success each year. In 1993, the special teams scored four touchdowns, three of which came after blocked punts.

Bernardi arrived at Valpo after assisting at Valparaiso High School from 1988-1990, where he tutored the defensive ends, tight ends, and helped with special teams.

He graduated from Indiana University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sports marketing and management. Sam and his wife, Heidi, have two children, Sam IV, born in 1999, and Sydney, born in 2001, and reside in Valparaiso.

Chip Taylor

Chip Taylor returned to the Valparaiso coaching staff prior to the 2006 season after spending two seasons with the Crusaders in 2003 and 2004. Valpo’s special teams coordinator also coaches the secondary this season for the Brown and Gold.

In addition, Taylor is in charge of the team’s strength and conditioning program.

In 2006, Taylor’s pass defense ranked second in the Pioneer Football league. Taylor also guided an All-PFL defensive back in his first season returning to the Brown and Gold’s sidelines.

Taylor served as an assistant coach at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in 2005 where he was the wide receivers coach as well and video coordinator. He also assisted with the kick return team. The squad went 5-5 in his one season and Taylor helped guide an Honorable Mention All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference wide receiver.

During his first stay at Valparaiso, during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, Taylor was the wide receivers coach for the Crusaders. During the 2003 PFL championship season, Valpo’s trio of starting wide receivers amassed more than 3,000 yards and scored 30 touchdowns. One of Taylor’s pupils, Rob Giancola, earned Second Team NCAA I-AA All-America honors after leading all levels of NCAA football with 23 touchdown receptions.

Taylor played at Illinois State University from 1998-2001 as a wide receiver and cornerback. In 2001, he also served as the team’s starting punt returner. A four-year letterwinner, Taylor was a member of the Gateway Conference championship team in 1999.

A native of Willingboro, N.J., Taylor graduated from Illinois State in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. He completed his master’s degree in sports administration at Valparaiso in 2005. Chip and his wife, LaQuisha, have a son, Chris, born in 2005, and reside in Valparaiso.

Josh Wissing

Josh Wissing joined the Valparaiso football coaching staff prior to the 2003 season. Prior to the 2008 season, Wissing was promoted to the team’s offensive coordinator.

He began with the Crusaders as a graduate assistant for two years, working extensively with the offensive line and tight ends. Prior to the 2006 season, Wissing moved into his current full-time role with the Brown and Gold.

In 2005, the Crusader offensive line, under Wissing’s guidance, helped pave the way for Jeff Horton to set a new single season rushing record with 1,358 yards as well as the school’s single game rushing mark.

Wissing was a member of the coaching staff during Valpo’s 2003 Pioneer Football League title season. His offensive line helped clear the way for an offense that finished ranked second in the nation in NCAA I-AA in passing offense.

He played football at DePauw University where he graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in communications. Wissing earned his master’s degree in sports administration in 2005 at Valparaiso.