A four year member of the Georgetown track team, specializing in the pole vault, Bonniwell was called to duty for the 1931-32 cagers due to injuries midway in the season. He saw action in eight games before returning for his senior season with the track team.

Following Georgetown, Bonniwell earned an M.A in psychology at Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. at the University of Ottawa in Canada. Bonniwell taught for many years at Villanova University, where the "Bernard L. Bonniwell Medallion of Academic Excellence" is awarded annually.