Hank Bernat is a locally recognized, highly decorated high school football coach. He was an assistant football coach with Lew Buckwalter from 1955-1959 at Owen J. Roberts as well as varsity basketball coach for five years. Hank was Head Football Coach at Owen J. Roberts from 1960 to 1990. His teams won eight Ches-Mont league titles (1970, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1986 and 1987) and a Pioneer Athletic Conference title in 1989. Hank’s philosophy was “to be fair, try to do the best you could, and give the most that you can.” Hank was noted for developing and getting the most out of his players. They include present Head Coach Tom Barr, Cliff Buckwalter, Dan Crossman, Rudy Glocker, Bill Hoffman, Randy Ireson, Denny Laws, Dave Strock, and Don Strock, to name just a few. Hank Bernat was born on November 29, 1929 and grew up in Phoenixville, the son of Polish-born parents. A 1947 graduate of Phoenixville High School, he played football, basketball and baseball. Hank went on to prep at Pennington School, attended Milligan College in Tennessee, and graduated from the University of Tampa where he played linebacker and fullback. In 1955 after teaching and coaching two years in Florida, Hank obtained a teaching position at the old North Coventry High School and would move over to the district’s new Owen J. Roberts High School in Bucktown when it opened. For 36 years, Hank taught Biology and coached at Owen J. Roberts. His honors include eight Ches-Mont Coach of the Year Awards, and in 1989, being named the Pioneer Conference Coach of the Year. He also won more than 12 Daily Local News and the Pottstown Mercury Coach of the Year Awards. Hank is a member of the Pennsylvania Football Coaches Hall of Fame, the Tri-County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, and the Phoenixville Area High School Athletic Hall of Fame.