| Hired at Buffalo State: |
Spring 2024 (May 7, 2024) |
| Prior to Buffalo State: |
Director of Athletics - SUNY Maritime (2019-2024) |
|
Head Coach - SUNY Maritime (2017-2024) |
|
Associate Head Coach - Daemen College (2014-2017) |
|
Associate Head Coach - Medaille College (2010-2014) |
| Alma Mater: |
Medaille College '10 (Bachelor's) |
|
Canisius College '15 (Master's) |
Berkun completed his first season at Buffalo State following the 2024-25 season with the team seeing immediate improvement. In his first season, the Bengals already matched their most wins in a season since the 2018-19 season as they begin their climb back to a premier SUNYAC contender.
Berkun, a Williamsville native and graduate of Williamsville North High School, returns to the Buffalo area after serving as head coach of the men’s basketball program at SUNY Maritime since 2017. He has also held the title of Athletic Director at Maritime since 2019.
During his six seasons at Maritime, Berkun won 60 games and guided his team to a Skyline Tournament berth and a winning record in each of the last two seasons. In 2023-24, Maritime finished with 14 victories, securing a top-four seed in the conference tournament, the first time in program history with back-to-back home playoff games. That followed a 2022-23 season that saw the squad post a 12-win improvement, finishing with an overall record of 16-11. The 16 victories were the team’s most since 2009-10, which was also the last time the Privateers had a winning record. The 2022-23 season also culminated in Skyline Conference Coach of the Year honors for Berkun.
Along with the team success, Berkun guided his student-athletes to numerous individual accomplishments, including five 1,000-point scorers in six seasons, three All-Skyline Conference selections, three All-Metropolitan honorees, one D3hoops.com All-Region selection, and one Josten’s Award Finalist.
As an administrator at Maritime, Berkun led the Athletic Department through the COVID-19 pandemic and established and implemented a successful return-to-competition plan during the 2021-22 academic year. He was also instrumental in the reintroduction of women’s basketball as a varsity sport at the College, oversaw the football team’s change in conference affiliation, and implemented the “Shipyard Game of the Week” to enhance game day environments on campus.
Berkun joined Maritime after three seasons at Daemen College in Amherst, NY, where he was the associate head coach from 2014-2017. The Wildcats went 59-29 during that time, and Berkun helped the team to consecutive East Coast Conference Tournament appearances. Berkun’s responsibilities at Daemen included recruiting, player development, strength & conditioning, fundraising and academic advising. He was also the director of the team camp and basketball camp. In addition, Berkun worked with the Gamechangers Program, giving the inner-city youth of Buffalo an opportunity to play basketball.
Prior to his stint at Daemen, Berkun spent four years, from 2010 to 2014, as the associate head coach at his alma mater—Medaille College. The Mavericks amassed 78 wins during his tenure, an average of 19.5 per season, and reached the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference semifinals in all four years. Medaille also claimed the AMCC Championship and earned an NCAA Tournament berth in 2011-12.
During his playing career at Medaille, Berkun amassed 481 career points, including 276 as a senior. He also tallied 199 assists and 135 rebounds. Berkun served as a team captain during both his junior and senior seasons, guiding the Mavericks to consecutive Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Tournament titles.
He graduated from Medaille with honors with a degree in liberal studies in 2010. Berkun received a master’s degree in sport administration from Canisius College (now Canisius University) in 2015.
| Buffalo State |
Overall Record |
SUNYAC Record |
Year-End Finish |
| 2024-25 |
8-17 |
6-12 (8th) |
|
| Overall at Buffalo State |
8-17 (.320) |
6-12 (.333) |
|
| Overall as Head Coach (7 seasons) |
68-109 (.384) |
- - |
- - |
(UPDATED 4/28/25)
