In uncertain times, new Benedict football coaching staff certain about Tigers’ future

When Chennis Berry took over the Benedict College football program in February, he appreciated the task in front of him and his staff.

First: Add life to an offense that averaged just 18.6 points per game in last year’s 1-9 run, and was 163rd out of 166 NCAA Division II teams in total offense.

Next: Reinforce an otherwise strong defense that stayed on the field too long last year, a unit that loses three key senior leaders in all-conference safety Robert Cummings, All-American cornerback Travionte Brown and linebacker Amari Andrews.

Continually: Reinvigorate the team’s mission, focus on the players’ academics as well as athletic performance, and reconnect the team with the community.

Nowhere in the short-range plans was doing all this in the shadow of a global pandemic.

As the coronavirus spread around the globe and COVID-19 cases reached South Carolina, Berry chalked up the cancellation of in-person classes at Benedict — and every other school in the nation — as one of those unplanned moments that any program must take in stride.

“The deal is unfortunate, but it is what it is,” he said. “We control what we can control, and whatever we can’t control we pray about it, give it to God, and let God lead us.”

Berry is all about control. He was welcomed to the Tigers program not only because his offenses at Southern University regularly averaged more than 30 points a game, but also because of his record of prioritizing education, community involvement and student-athletes’ health and welfare.

He said his decision to take on the challenge at Benedict was made easy when he saw the administration’s commitment to the football program and to the athletes, coaches and staff.

“They welcomed me with open arms,” the longtime Southern University offensive coordinator and assistant head coach said about Benedict president Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, Athletics Director Willie Washington and the college administration at large. “They understood the vision and have been very supportive.

“From the beginning, I felt we were headed in the right direction,” Berry said. “I’ve assembled my staff for the most part, and we hit the ground running in terms of recruiting. Between me and the coaching staff, things were really on the upward swing.”

That upward swing took a sudden turn when the campus was closed in early March and students were sent home. While the nationwide response to the coronavirus grounded most every sports, entertainment, business and educational activity to a halt, Berry and his staff knew they had to continue the beginnings of the rebuilding process.

“During a crisis, any time you go through something like this, we have to just be creative and innovative. We’re in unknown territory,” he said. “Our deal is to provide as much normalcy as possible. Every day we meet as a staff and when we break up to do installs and special teams work. We continue to talk to players, continue to do academic checks.”

Part of those checks is taking any student identified as at-risk and putting him on a plan to make sure he understands the academic expectations.

“Zoom has been amazing for us during this time,” he said of the video meeting application the staff uses to keep in touch with one another as well as the team. “We really can’t control what’s going on, but we do have control over our program, and we’re telling our players to keep their hands washed, keep social distancing.”

Topping the list is closing out a recruiting class of at least 30. Benedict currently has 22 signees this year, 18 freshmen and four junior college players.

“I give kudos to my recruiting coordinator, Jordan Odaffer, and the whole coaching staff when it comes to that,” he said. “We didn’t get a chance to get out, but our recruits have a great relationship in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, so we’ve gotten quite a bit of guys from those areas.”

Berry said this signing class is heavy in linemen on both sides of the football, and the team filled some needs at the defensive back, linebacker and wide receiver positions. The goal is to have 100 players on the roster, a group large enough that will provide depth and competition for every starting position.

For now, those players looking to fill a spot on the depth chart can use any extra time they have beyond workouts to be better students and people, Berry said.

“It’s bigger than football right now,” he said. “They need to enjoy this time with their families. They have the chance to be better sons and brothers. They can help in their communities and in their churches.

“We have to get ready for the season, no doubt, but they can remove football for a while,” Berry added. “We’ll get through this thing, this pandemic that we’ve never seen before in our lifetime, and be better players and coaches.”

About Chennis Berry

He’s a Cleveland, Ohio native with a bachelors’ degree in business administration (Savannah State) and a master’s in public administration (Kentucky State).

As a player

Offensive tackle, first team All-SIAC; and Black College All-American Honorable Mention, 1994

As a coach

Southern University

Assistant head coach 2015-2019; offensive line 2012-2015

Howard University

Co-offensive coordinator/offensive line 2011-2012

North Carolina A&T

Associate head coach/offensive coordinator/offensive line 2003-2005, 2009-2010

Morgan State

Offensive coordinator/offensive line 2006-2008

Fort Valley State

Assistant head coach, 2001-2002

Kentucky State

Offensive line, tight ends, strength and conditioning, 1997-2001

Morris Brown College

Offensive line, tight ends 1996