Shavar Bernier earned a BA in human development from Connecticut College, where he played four years of varsity basketball; he captained the team for three years. His basketball accolades at Conn College are many: he earned the Sportsmanship Award in his sophomore season; is ranked first all-time in career three-pointers and tenth all-time in career points; was named to the All-NESCAC second team; and was selected to the NEBCA Division III all-star game. Additionally, in college he worked in the alumni relations office, served as teacher’s aide in the college’s children’s program, worked in construction, coached at Conn College basketball camps, and assisted as a basketball coach at Waterford Middle School.

Before college, Bernier captained his Dover, New Hampshire high school basketball team. He was 1st-team All-State and Seacoast Player of the Year in 2004. He attended Bridgton Academy for a post-graduate year, where the faculty selected him as the recipient of the prestigious Spooner Award, given to the most outstanding student in general excellence of studies, loyalty and uprightness of character.

Bernier spent time as an assistant men’s basketball coach and intramural assistant director at St. Michael’s College in Vermont, and at The Gunnery. At Taft, Shavar is an admissions officer, head boys’ basketball coach and assistant football coach.