SC STATE FOOTBALL: Berry will take over coaching Bulldogs; Cochran to be named new AD

TRAVIS BOLAND T&D Sports Editor

South Carolina State University President Alexander Conyers announced the hiring of the school’s head football coach and athletics director at a board of trustees meeting Thursday.

“I am confident that we have hired great additions to the team,” Conyers said. “I look forward to working with each one of these great coaches, former coaches and now athletic director, and I look forward to their families joining them here in Orangeburg as well.”

Benedict head football coach Chennis Berry talks during the weekly Orangeburg Touchdown Club meeting held Oct. 26, 2003, at the Orangeburg County Library's conference center. Berry has been named SC State's new head football coach, succeeding Oliver "Buddy" Pough.

Former Benedict head football coach Chennis Berry will take over the SC State football team after leading the Tigers to back-to-back SIAC championships. Berry just finished his fourth year in Columbia, which featured two straight unbeaten regular seasons and consecutive appearances in the Division II playoffs.

When asked about Berry, current head coach Buddy Pough said he has a great pedigree. He said he was impressed with his leadership ability as a coordinator and head coach and called these last two years at Benedict remarkable.

An introductory press conference will be scheduled for next week.

Nathan Cochran is expected to be the school’s next athletics director. He will take over for interim AD Pough later this month.

Cochran is an SCSU alum who played for head coach Willie Jeffries. He graduated from South Carolina State in 2000.

Cochran is currently the athletics director at Walsh University in Canton, Ohio.

No contract details were released as they are reportedly still being finalized.