Michael Styles joins the South Carolina State University football staff as the Cornerbacks Coach. Coach Styles comes to Orangeburg after spending the 2022 and 2023 seasons at Benedict College as the Cornerbacks Coach.
During his time at Benedict College, the team had back-to-back undefeated regular seasons and were back-to-back SIAC Conference Champions. Coach Styles helped Benedict become one of the top 5 defenses in all categories in the NCAA D2, while having the #1 defense in passing yards allowed and #1 in defensive passing efficiency in the nation at the end of the regular season in back-to-back years. He helped produce First Team All SIAC Conference and First Team All Super Region Cornerback Ja’Voni Melidor, while on the other side of the field he had Second Team All-American Josh Heyward who was invited to the Hulu Bowl and Legacy Bowl.
In his two seasons as Defensive Coordinator at Hocking, Styles' defense was ranked in the Top 25 nationally, helping to lead Hocking to a 7-3 record during the fall season. While at Hocking College, he helped produce a NJCAA All-American in Izayah Aekins, while also helping multiple players earn D-I football scholarships. During the 2021 spring season, Coach Styles developed the defense into one of the best junior college defenses in the country, getting them to the nationally ranked number 1 defense by only allowing six points during that time.
Prior to joining Hocking College in 2021, Coach Styles was the defensive coordinator at Westside High School for two seasons. While at Westside, Coach Styles helped Westside obtain one of the best records in school history at 8-2 in 2019, while also helping produce the first back-to-back FHSAA playoff appearances in school history. Styles' defense was one of the top ranked defenses in the country in 2019, with 53 sacks, 21 interceptions, and 5 defensive touchdowns. He also helped produce one 5A First Team All-State player in Defensive Back Angelo Philpot, 5A Second Team All-State Linebacker Jeremiah Dawson, and one player to 5A Honorable Mention Defensive End Chadwick Martin and the 5A District 3 player of the year Defensive Back Angelo Philpot. In 2020, he helped produce another 5A district player of the year in Defensive Back/Wide Receiver Antwon McCrae.
In 2018, Coach Styles was the Defensive Coordinator for Curie Metropolitan High School, where he coached the No. 1 defense in Chicago Public Schools and the state of Illinois. There he also helped produce All State Linemen Kevo Wesley, who now attended Vanderbilt University.
During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Coach Styles served as the Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator at DRW Prep in Chicago, where he led the Cheetahs to a 16-6 record, and leading them to the Intra-City 6 Conference Championship. Coach Styles began his coaching career at his alma mater, Warner University in Lake Wales, Florida.
Coach Styles coached at his alma mater for three full seasons. Coach Styles coached the defensive backs while also serving as the recruiting coordinator. During his coaching time at Warner, he helped Warner to one of the top defenses in the NAIA while coaching three all-conference players, and Sun Conference defensive player of the year Loronza Smith, who was also a finalist for the Cliff Harris award.
As a collegiate player for Warner, Coach Styles was a part of the first program ever fielded at Warner University and served as a team captain for the 2013 season, where he also earned his bachelor's degree in Sports Management. Prior to Warner, Coach Styles played defensive back for West Virginia State.
Prior to West Virginia State, Coach Styles played at Hutchinson Community College where he was a part of the No. 1 recruiting class in JUCO and College of DuPage. All where he had the honor of being a team captain.
Coach Styles was invited to the USA College Football Bowl and selected to participate in the regional and super regional NFL combines.
Coach Styles has two daughters, Zoey Styles and Nialah Styles
