SC State Head Coach Chennis Berry Bio (3rd Season| 19-6 overall, 10-0 MEAC)
South Carolina State head football coach Chennis Berry enters his third season at the helm of the Bulldogs program after quickly establishing one of the top runs in the Football Championship Subdivision and HBCU football.
In just two seasons, Berry guided South Carolina State to back-to-back Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships in 2024 and 2025, including the program’s 20th MEAC title overall.
The Bulldogs also captured the 2025 Cricket Wireless Celebration Bowl championship and HBCU national title with a dramatic 40-38 four-overtime victory over Prairie View A&M in Atlanta on Dec. 13, 2025. It marked South Carolina State’s second Celebration Bowl title in five years and the first under Berry.
Berry owns a perfect 10-0 conference record during his tenure and has earned consecutive MEAC Coach of the Year honors. Following the 2025 season, he also received American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Minority Advancement Forum Coach of the Year award, was named an Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year finalist, earned a spot on the Advancement of Blacks in Sports Coach of the Year watch list and was selected to serve on a fourth consecutive HBCU Legacy Bowl coaching staff.
The Bulldogs ranked among the MEAC leaders in numerous categories during the 2025 season, finishing first in total defense, total offense, interceptions, red-zone defense, time of possession and third-down conversions. South Carolina State also led the league in PAT percentage and ranked second in passing defense and field goals. Berry coached MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year Roger “Big Baby” Smith and MEAC Defensive Player of the Year Jarod Washington.
Washington also received the 2025 Aeneas Williams Award, giving to the top defensive back in the country from HBCU. He is the only player ever in SC State history to receive this prestigious honor.
SC State closed out the season ranked nationally for the second straight season in the FCS Stats Perform Top 25 poll at No. 21 under Berry.
In 2024, Berry led South Carolina State to one of the nation’s most productive seasons statistically. The Bulldogs finished first in the MEAC in total offense, passing offense, passing efficiency, sacks, forced fumbles, first downs and red-zone offense while ranking second in scoring offense. Nationally, South Carolina State finished the season ranked No. 20 in the final
FCS Stats Perform Top 25 poll and ranked among the nation’s leaders in total defense, passing offense, turnovers gained and defensive touchdowns.
Berry also coached several major award winners during the 2024 campaign, including MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year Nick Taiste and quarterback Eric Phoenix, who earned MEAC Offensive Player of the Year honors and became the first HBCU+ National Player of the Year.
Before arriving at South Carolina State in 2023, Berry spent three seasons as head coach at Benedict College, where he compiled a 27-7 record, won a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship and guided the Tigers to consecutive NCAA Division II playoff appearances.
Berry also served as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Southern University from 2013-19, helping the Jaguars become one of the top offensive programs in the SWAC and nationally. During his tenure, Southern consistently ranked among the nation’s leaders in rushing offense and scoring offense, while running back Lenard Tillery became the SWAC’s all-time leading rusher in conference history.
The Jaguars led the SWAC in rushing and ranked 13th in the nation. Southern also averaged more than 33 points per game, ranking 25th in the nation in scoring. In 2016, the Jaguars ranked fifth in the nation in scoring with 39.8 points per game and were 11th nationally in total offense. As an offensive line coach, Berry guided the Jaguars to no lower than 12th in the nation in sacks allowed three seasons. During his time at Southern, Berry mentored ten offensive linemen who earned All-SWAC recognition and five who garnered All-America honors.
His coaching resume includes stops at Howard University, North Carolina A&T, Morgan State University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University and Morris Brown College. Berry also participated in the NFL Minority Internship Program with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, San Diego Chargers and Chicago Bears.
In 2009, he participated in the NCAA Expert Coaches Academy Forum. The program prepares young minority assistant coaches for head coaching positions.
As Morgan State's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 2006-2008. During Berry's time there, the Bears possessed one of the most envied running games in the MEAC. In each of his three seasons with Morgan State, the Bears' rushing offense ranked in the top 50 nationally.
Berry began his career at Morris Brown College in Atlanta in 1996 where he coached under Joe Crosby. After one season with Morris Brown, Berry became the offensive line and tight ends coach, as well as the strength and conditioning coordinator, at Kentucky State under George Small in 1997.
Behind Berry's strong offensive line at Kentucky State, Alvon Brown broke several school and national Division II records. Brown broke the single season rushing record at KSU twice and finished his career as the school's all-time leading rusher. He also rushed for 405 yards in a game on September 16, 2000, which at the time was a Division II single-game record. Berry's offensive line also helped Brown win the SIAC Player of the Year award on two occasions.
While at Fort Valley State In 2001, as assistant head coach, he was responsible for coaching the Wildcats' offensive linemen and tight ends. His impact at FVSU was immediately felt as Philip Shiflet earned SIAC Offensive Lineman of the Year and first-team Sheridan All-Americans honors.
A former standout offensive tackle at Savannah State University, Berry earned First Team All-SIAC honors and Black College Honorable Mention All-America recognition in 1994 while serving as team captain. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Savannah State and a master’s degree in public administration from Kentucky State.
Berry and his wife, Ramille, have four children: Jasmin, Mia, Chennis III and Channing.
