Carli Berger - Assistant Coach - Staff Directory - Creighton University Athletics

Staff Directory

Carli Berger

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
Phone:
(402) 280-5577

Berger begins her 11th season on the Bluejay bench in 2024-25. She is one of just two people to play and coach in an NCAA Women’s Tournament game for the Bluejays, twice as a player (2012 and 2013) and four more as a coach (2017, 2018, 2022 and 2023).

In her four years in uniform, the Bluejays went a combined 83-48, while Creighton is 192-117 with Berger in a coaching role. Berger’s combined record as a Bluejay stands at 275-165 entering the 2024-25 season.

Carli has truly done a little bit of everything for the Bluejays. She was the 2011 MVC Freshman of the Year and the 2012 MVC Tournament MVP as she led the Bluejays to the first NCAA Tournament under head coach Jim Flanery in 2011-12. A veteran that battled injuries to navigate a return trip to the Dance in 2012-13, she immediately moved to the bench for Flanery. Berger spent two years as a graduate assistant (2014-16), one as the video coordinator (2016-17) and is currently in her seventh season as a Bluejay assistant coach.

During her tenure on the bench, Berger is credited with the development of Temi Carda. The Minnesota native (Carda) grew from a role player in her first two seasons, to Creighton’s leader during the 2020-21 season. Carda closed her career with 1,266 points.

In her four years in uniform, the Bluejays went a combined 83-48, while Creighton is 166-111 with Berger in a coaching role. Berger’s combined record as a Bluejay stands at 249-159 entering the 2023-24 season.

Berger’s best performance on the court came when her team needed it the most. During the 2012 MVC Tournament Berger delivered a career-high 29 points in the Bluejays’ semifinal win over Missouri State. One night later in the final against Drake, Berger supplied 19 points to guide Creighton to its first NCAA Tournament since 2001-02. She was named MVC Tournament MVP after averaging 19.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

Carli closed her sophomore season with All-MVC First Team honors. Berger set Creighton MVC Tournament records by making 20 and attempting 26 free throws during the tournament. She was the highest scoring sophomore in the MVC (14.4 ppg) and the first sophomore to lead the Bluejays in scoring since MVC Player of the Year Christy Neneman in 2001-02.

Forced to end her playing career (with the exception of a brief appearance on senior night) prior to the 2013-14 season due to chronic knee pain, Berger recorded 1,041 points over 97 games. “Getting hurt really opened my eye to the other side of sports. I enjoy the impact you can have on another person’s life,” said Berger.

Berger earned her a bachelor’s degree in communications from Creighton in 2014. Two years later she earned a master’s degree in leadership at Creighton. Carli married Nate Berger during the summer of 2019. The couple welcomed their first child (Luke) in 2022 and reside in Omaha.