Harrison Bernstein had a dream of coaching football at the professional level. After years of hard work, he got the opportunity in 2019. However, his passion for coaching took a different turn. He decided to sacrifice his dream to give back to the community that had made the ultimate sacrifice. Bernstein is the president and founder of Soldiers to Sidelines, a veteran charity organization. The mission of Soldiers to Sidelines is to provide a renewed sense of purpose to members of the military community through coaching while also serving the youth community.
The idea for Soldiers to Sidelines came about in 2010 after Bernstein’s time with the Washington Commanders. A colleague suggested bringing local veterans out to high school football practice to teach them how to coach football. Initially, Bernstein was not interested as he was focused on perfecting his coaching technique to return to the NFL. However, after much persistence, Bernstein held a seminar that led to the creation of Soldiers to Sidelines.
The program is free and available to veterans, service members, military spouses, and gold-star families. It offers continued learning opportunities with online coursework, webinars, workshops, and more. Those who have completed the certification process have gone on to coach at all levels, from high school to collegiate and even professional levels. Bernstein believes that the impact of soldier coaches can be seen most significantly at the youth level.
Soldiers to Sidelines aims to address the shortage of coaches in the country, as well as the shortage of quality coaches. The organization envisions creating an army of 10,000 character-based soldier coaches who will positively influence millions of kids each year. Another goal of Soldiers to Sidelines is to ensure the future of the all-volunteer force in the U.S. military by showcasing the value of military service and the qualities it instills in individuals.
Bernstein hopes that Soldiers to Sidelines will expand to work with every major sports league and that more people will join the program to become soldier coaches and make a positive impact on their communities. The organization’s goal is to have 10,000 soldier coaches influencing over a million kids annually, which could have a transformative impact on the country.
In conclusion, Soldiers to Sidelines is not just about coaching sports, but about changing lives and communities through the power of service and mentorship. The organization’s commitment to supporting veterans and empowering youth demonstrates the ripple effect of giving back and inspiring others to do the same. By investing in soldier coaches, Soldiers to Sidelines is shaping the future of sports coaching and fostering a culture of selfless service and leadership in communities across the country.