S.C. State coach Chennis Berry returns to Atlanta for Celebration Bowl
In 1988, Chennis Berry was searching for ways to bond with other male teenagers and uplift himself after moving from Cleveland, Ohio, to Stone Mountain.
Berry, who lived with his divorced father, joined Redan High School’s football and basketball teams and earned a reputation for being a well-rounded athlete and team player. He started having regular conversations with teammates about college, careers and playing professional sports, and realized he wanted to pursue a path in sports that supports and develops talent.
“I was never the best player on any team, but I was always picked as a leader or captain. I started getting around bigger, stronger and faster guys, and it made me grow,” Berry told UATL.
“Being around teamwork, brotherhood, discipline and creating a family with guys who were making sacrifices made me who I am today.”
Thirty-seven years later, Berry — South Carolina State University’s head football coach — is leading the team from Orangeburg in the 10th Cricket Celebration Bowl, the national championship for historically Black college football teams, at noon Saturday at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
S.C. State, which went undefeated two seasons and became back-to-back Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champions, is facing Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Prairie View A&M University, which defeated Jackson State University last weekend. It’s Berry’s second Celebration Bowl appearance since he took the job in 2023.
S.C. State was defeated by Jackson State last year, but Berry is optimistic this year.
In preparation for Saturday, Berry — recently named MEAC Coach of the Year — has scheduled noon practices. He said the scheduled time keeps the team sharp and ready for the noon kickoff.
“Prairie View was still competing, so we had to be on point. We’ve been going extremely hard and staying in game mode because we haven’t played since (Delaware State University on) Nov. 22,” Berry said.
This season, the smoky-voiced coach led a new team after several players graduated. He called a team meeting last summer and showed a PowerPoint presentation with an exterior shot of Mercedes-Benz Stadium at the end.
Berry titled the slide “Begin With the End in Mind.” He created the acronym BUY IN — believe, unite, yield to the outcome, invest in each other now — as a road map to gain his team’s trust and build solidarity.
He said coaching younger players involves being selfless and setting a standard of excellence. “I’m very demanding but never demeaning. There’s an expectation for how we look, practice and play, and I try to do things and create experiences for our young men that are first class,” he said.
“It’s about treating people right while they’re here. I get the most out of my players, because they know I truly care for and love them. We just want to make sure they’re ready for this game we call life.”
In 1995, Berry landed his first coaching opportunity as a student assistant at his alma mater, Savannah State University. He took his first full-time position at Morris Brown College the following year.
Berry, who’s worked at 10 HBCUs in his 32-year career, held positions in football programs at North Carolina A&T, Fort Valley State, Howard and Kentucky State University.
He said he was actively recruited or recommended by other coaches for every opportunity.
“Bloom where you’re planted and be the best you can be where you’re at,” Berry said. “The relationships you build there are second to none.”
Berry doesn’t credit coaches or mentors specifically for shaping his philosophy, but said he paid attention to anyone who embodied his personal and professional goals.
“I was a self-starter who just watched people. I knew that I wanted to be a good person and impact people’s lives in positive ways,” Berry said.
Berry’s goal is to lead S.C. State to his first HBCU Division I National Championship.
“I follow some living legends, like (coaches) Willie Jeffries, Oliver “Buddy” Pough and William “Bill” Davis, so I just want to continue my philosophy to recruit, retain, develop and graduate. It’s my secret sauce for everything that I touch turning to gold,” he said.
Berry said he’s committed to helping S.C. State win its first Celebration Bowl trophy.
“I’m grateful to be at a place that expects to win. I got up this morning just thanking God for just another opportunity to be able to impact the lives of young people,” he said.
“If you can get them to believe in themselves by winning between their ears, they can accomplish anything they want.”
About the Author
Christopher A. Daniel is a Black Culture reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is an Atlanta-based, award-winning journalist, cultural critic and ethnomusicologist. He previously taught courses at Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University and Georgia State University.
