ORANGEBURG, SC— For the second straight year South Carolina State head coach Chennis Berry will appear as a member of this year's coaching staff at the East-West Shrine Bowl, to be played Jan. 27, 2026, at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

Berry, a part of this year's fellowship, will join a prestigious coaching staff which will get firsthand experience with some 2026 draft prospects.

In 2021, The NFL partnered with the East-West Shrine Bowl to provide development opportunities for both coaches and draft-eligible players. Through this partnership, the NFL selects coaching staff from current league assistant coaches and assigns NFL game officials to oversee the action, delivering a high-quality experience for players, coaches, and fans alike.

Berry will represent and be a part of the West coaching staff. Click link for complete coaching staff listing 2026 East and West Coaches.

Once again this will be a special opportunity for Berry, who just completed his second season at the helm of the Bulldog football program, which he reached another historic milestone  guiding his team to an 10-3 overall record, a 5-0 MEAC mark including back-to-back MEAC Title (2024 & 2025) and the 2025 Cricket Wireless Celebration Bowl HBCU National Title with an amazing win over Prairie View A&M.

The Bulldog mentor will also get another chance to coach All-MEAC and All-American this year in Jarod Washington. In 2025 Berry  coached former SC State standout linebacker Aaron Smith in the same game.

In 2024 Berry was the only coach in school history to guide his team to a conference championship in their first season. Along with making his mark in SC State Football history, the Bulldogs are a perfect 10-0 in league play as well as an undefeated mark at home inside Oliver C. Dawson Stadium|Willie E. Jeffries Field during his era.

Along with making his mark in SC State Football history, Berry earned his second straight MEAC Coach of the Year honor as well as capturing numerous coaching accolades this season. His achievements included coaching the MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year, and the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year

The Bulldogs finished the season ranked #21 in Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll, and compiled the top academic mark with, -- a 3.25 overall G.P.A -- during the fall semester along with 60+ players over 3.0 G.P. A and six (6) with a perfect 4.0 G.P.A.

ABOUT SC STATE ATHLETICS 
South Carolina State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 14 sports: women's volleyball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track & field, softball, men's and women's outdoor track and field, women's soccer and football with all teams competing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), except for women's soccer. 
  
FOLLOW SOUTH CAROLINA STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE  
There are many ways to keep up with SCSU athletics online and on the go: 
• Visit www.scsuathletics.com, the official web site of Bulldog athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more.  
• Follow us on social media: 
Facebook: /SCStateAthletics 
Twitter: @SCStateAthletic 
Instagram: /SCStateAthletics 
YouTube: @scstateathletics1205