David Berkun is in his eighth season on the Stanford men’s basketball staff and his first as assistant coach. After two seasons as the Director of Operations, Berkun was promoted to Assistant Athletics Director, Men’s Basketball in 2021 and to assistant coach in 2023.
Stanford won 30 games over the past two seasons, including two wins over AP top-five opponents, Stanford's first since 2007, and its first over a top-25 team on the road since 2014. Harrison Ingram was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2022 – Stanford’s first since 2000 – while Spencer Jones blossomed into an All-Pac-12 conference forward in both 2022 and 2023. Sam Beskind and James Keefe joined Oscar da Silva in giving Stanford a run of three consecutive Pac-12 Scholar Athletes of the Year, with Stanford the only men's or women's basketball program in league history to win three awards in a row. Brandon Angel and Michael Jones were named Academic All-Americans in 2023.
The 2020-21 campaign was turned upside down by the COVID-19 global outbreak and subsequent restrictions in Santa Clara County, and Stanford showed its resilience and tenacity with a 14-13 overall record and 10 Pac-12 wins. The season included three wins over eventual Sweet 16 teams, two over Elite Eight programs, and a sweep of Arizona for the first time since 2008.
Prior to the 2019-20 season, Berkun was elevated to his current role as the program's Director of Operations, after continuing to take on new roles and responsibilities each season. The 2019-20 team went on to win 20 games - Stanford's first 20-wins season since 2014-15.
As the Director of Operations, Berkun oversees team travel, scheduling of program activities, facilities coordination, alumni development and assists with scheduling. Berkun continues to serve as the program’s liaison with the department’s facilities, event management, operations and external relations teams. He also manages team and staff schedules and aides in the program’s 6th Man initiatives.
Berkun served as the Director of Player Development in 2018-19, becoming more involved with the scouting, recruiting and analytics.
Berkun joined the program in the middle of the 2016-17 season during head coach Jerod Haase’s first year with the Cardinal. In his first full season on The Farm in 2017-18, Stanford won 19 games overall and earned a postseason berth for the first time in three years. The Cardinal’s 11 wins and third-place finish in the Pac-12 was its most wins and best finish in the conference in a decade. After joining the program in the middle of the 2016-17 season as an intern, Berkun grew his responsibilities during his first full season on The Farm in 2017-18.
A native of Buffalo, New York, Berkun graduated Canisius College in December 2016 and was immediately hired by Stanford. Berkun earned his bachelor’s degree in finance, where he was a member of the Dean’s List each semester and graduated Magna Cum Laude. Berkun was also a standout member of the Canisius golf team during his time on the Buffalo campus. A two-time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Academic selection as a member of the Golden Griffins, Berkun also served a leadership role on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. During his time at Canisius, Berkun worked in the athletic department. He assisted the department in the internal production of live broadcasts of several events, while also serving as one of the athletic department’s liaisons for external television productions.
Berkun earned his master's degree in Sport Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2021.
Berkun has two years of experience in coaching, serving as an assistant coach for the varsity boy’s basketball team at Williamsville South High School during the 2014-15 season and as an assistant coach for the varsity boy’s basketball team at Williamsville North High School for the 2013-14 campaign. Berkun captained the Williamsville North High School boy’s basketball team during a standout scholastic career. His brother, Michael, is in his second season as the head coach of the SUNY Maritime College men’s basketball team.
Berkun’s cousin, Adam Cohen, served as the Cardinal’s Associate Head Coach from 2016-22.
Stanford won 30 games over the past two seasons, including two wins over AP top-five opponents, Stanford's first since 2007, and its first over a top-25 team on the road since 2014. Harrison Ingram was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2022 – Stanford’s first since 2000 – while Spencer Jones blossomed into an All-Pac-12 conference forward in both 2022 and 2023. Sam Beskind and James Keefe joined Oscar da Silva in giving Stanford a run of three consecutive Pac-12 Scholar Athletes of the Year, with Stanford the only men's or women's basketball program in league history to win three awards in a row. Brandon Angel and Michael Jones were named Academic All-Americans in 2023.
The 2020-21 campaign was turned upside down by the COVID-19 global outbreak and subsequent restrictions in Santa Clara County, and Stanford showed its resilience and tenacity with a 14-13 overall record and 10 Pac-12 wins. The season included three wins over eventual Sweet 16 teams, two over Elite Eight programs, and a sweep of Arizona for the first time since 2008.
Prior to the 2019-20 season, Berkun was elevated to his current role as the program's Director of Operations, after continuing to take on new roles and responsibilities each season. The 2019-20 team went on to win 20 games - Stanford's first 20-wins season since 2014-15.
As the Director of Operations, Berkun oversees team travel, scheduling of program activities, facilities coordination, alumni development and assists with scheduling. Berkun continues to serve as the program’s liaison with the department’s facilities, event management, operations and external relations teams. He also manages team and staff schedules and aides in the program’s 6th Man initiatives.
Berkun served as the Director of Player Development in 2018-19, becoming more involved with the scouting, recruiting and analytics.
Berkun joined the program in the middle of the 2016-17 season during head coach Jerod Haase’s first year with the Cardinal. In his first full season on The Farm in 2017-18, Stanford won 19 games overall and earned a postseason berth for the first time in three years. The Cardinal’s 11 wins and third-place finish in the Pac-12 was its most wins and best finish in the conference in a decade. After joining the program in the middle of the 2016-17 season as an intern, Berkun grew his responsibilities during his first full season on The Farm in 2017-18.
A native of Buffalo, New York, Berkun graduated Canisius College in December 2016 and was immediately hired by Stanford. Berkun earned his bachelor’s degree in finance, where he was a member of the Dean’s List each semester and graduated Magna Cum Laude. Berkun was also a standout member of the Canisius golf team during his time on the Buffalo campus. A two-time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Academic selection as a member of the Golden Griffins, Berkun also served a leadership role on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. During his time at Canisius, Berkun worked in the athletic department. He assisted the department in the internal production of live broadcasts of several events, while also serving as one of the athletic department’s liaisons for external television productions.
Berkun earned his master's degree in Sport Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2021.
Berkun has two years of experience in coaching, serving as an assistant coach for the varsity boy’s basketball team at Williamsville South High School during the 2014-15 season and as an assistant coach for the varsity boy’s basketball team at Williamsville North High School for the 2013-14 campaign. Berkun captained the Williamsville North High School boy’s basketball team during a standout scholastic career. His brother, Michael, is in his second season as the head coach of the SUNY Maritime College men’s basketball team.
Berkun’s cousin, Adam Cohen, served as the Cardinal’s Associate Head Coach from 2016-22.