HBCU coach reflects on firing that set him up for success

Chennis Berry is the toast of HBCU soccer now, sitting on the head of the desk at South Carolina State College.

Nevertheless it was a protracted and winding street to get there. And let Berry inform it — it began with a firing.

Berry shared he was recruited by HBCU teaching legend Invoice Davis, getting his solely scholarship provide from Savannah State whereas taking part in highschool basketball within the early Nineteen Nineties. Davis is the person who coached Shannon Sharpe when he was at Savannah State.

He performed his first two seasons below Davis at SSU earlier than ending his profession below Joe Crosby. 

When his taking part in days had been up, Crosby supplied the younger offensive lineman the prospect to change into offensive line coach at then-SIAC rival Morris Brown College. He began working two days after graduating from Savannah State.

“He knew me and my management function and issues of that nature,” Berry instructed “Inside The Headset. “ So he supplied me — at 23-years previous — to be the offensive line coach. 

“When the season was over he referred to as me within the workplace and mentioned ‘you already know what, we’re going to a unique course,” Berry recounted in his signature, gruff voice. “We want some extra expertise as an O-line coach. You’re a little bit younger and we have to take this program to the following degree, so we’re going to should go in a unique course.”

He admitted it was a troublesome tablet to swallow on the time. As we speak, almost 30 years later, Berry views that firing as a turning level in his profession.

Berry was virtually instantly added to George Small’s employees at Kentucky State College. He made essentially the most of his time there, pursuing his grasp’s diploma and sharpening his expertise. Just a few years later, Small was employed as the pinnacle coach at North Carolina A&T, and Berry joined him as offensive line coach. 

“I actually consider that that firing, actually spearheaded my profession as a result of it put me in entrance of individuals in numerous staffs that now…each job — I’m going to encourage younger individuals with this. Up till I grew to become a head coach — and I began interviewing for head teaching jobs — out of all the roles I’ve ever had, and I’ve labored at 9 completely different establishments. I’ve by no means interviewed. The loopy factor about by no means interviewing is my fame began to progress and folks began to know me.” 

Chennis Berry spent the following 17 years honing his expertise at varied HBCUs within the FCS and Division I earlier than being employed at Benedict School. After a 5-5 season in 2021, he led Benedict School to back-to-back 11-0 common seasons and SIAC championships. 

Now he’ll look to get South Carolina State again to the MEAC mountaintop. 

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HBCU coach displays on firing that set him up for fulfillment