HBCU D2 to FCS: What history predicts for new South Carolina State coach

After building up Benedict College, Chennis Berry is taking over one of HBCU football’s most storied programs in the FCS — South Carolina State.

He will enter the FCS ranks as a head coach for the first time after cutting his teeth at the HBCU Division II level. How big of a difference is that historically? Let’s take a look at how some of the other big winners at the Division II level have fared historically when taking over from lower levels of HBCU football success.

Bill Hayes — Winston-Salem State to North Carolina A&T

A Durham native and a star at North Carolina College (Central), Hayes worked at Wake Forest as an assistant before taking over as head coach at Winston-Salem State. Hayes took a WSSU program that had never won a CIAA title and led it to back-to-back undefeated, CIAA titles in 1977 and ’78. His teams at WSSU made it to five straight CIAA title games before he finally won the big game in 1987. He went 89-40-2 during his tenure, setting the stage for a program that now has 12 CIAA titles — tied for most amongst active members of the league.

Following that season, Hayes was hired down the road at North Carolina A&T. His team went 2-9 that season — including a loss to a Winston-Salem State team led by former assistant Pete Richardson.

Hayes’ tenure was eventually a success, as he coached 170 games winning 106 of them — both North Carolina A&T records. His teams won three MEAC titles and two national titles. He is also up for the College Football Hall of Fame.

Pete Richardson — Winston-Salem State to Southern University

Richardson played in the NFL after starring at Dayton (OH) in college and then became a high school coach. He was discovered by Bill Hayes and joined his staff shortly thereafter. He ran a tough defense with several former NFL stars as Hayes led the way for five straight CIAA Southern Division Crowns and the 1987 CIAA title. Hayes’ departure before the 1988 season opened the door for Richardson at WSSU. He went on to win a title in his first season and went to the CIAA title game in each of his first three seasons. He won a total of three CIAA championships in five years before being hired away to Southern University.

Richardson inherited a Southern team that was 5-6 in 1992 under Marino Casem. Richardson won his first eight games and went 11-1 in his first season. He was perfect in the SWAC and led Southern to a win in the Heritage Bowl. He left the school nearly two decades later as a highly decorated, Hall of Fame Coach. He won 128 games and lost just 62 while at Southern.

Billy Joe — Central State to Florida A&M

Joe, like Pete Richardson, made it to the NFL in the 1960s from a PWI. He was a star at Villanova before being drafted into the pros. He began his coaching career at Cheyney State, leading the HBCU in the PSAC to a 31-32 record throughout seven seasons. Joe made his mark at Central State University, where after a short stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, he coached from 1981 through 1993.

Joe had CSU at 12-1 by his third season in Wilberforce, OH, making it to the Division II championship game. CSU would lose that title, but after moving to the NAIA in the late 1980s, his team became the most consistent in black college football, winning at least 10 games in six consecutive seasons and routinely beating Division I-AA HBCU football powers. He led his teams to national titles in 1990 and 1992 before he was finally lured away to Florida A&M.

Billy Joe took over for Ken Riley in 1994 and led the team to a 6-5 record. His teams went 9-3 in each of the next two seasons and eventually made a run at the Division I-AA national title under his Gulf Coast Offense.

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