In the wake of a dramatic Celebration Bowl victory, the South Carolina State University football program is facing a significant change. Defensive coordinator Jordan Odaffer, a central architect of the team’s recent defensive dominance, is departing the program. The announcement, made by Odaffer himself on his personal Facebook account, marks the end of a highly successful six-year partnership with head coach Chennis Berry and leaves a major vacancy on the Bulldogs’ coaching staff as they prepare to defend their MEAC championship.
Odaffer’s departure is framed as a personal decision driven by family. In his heartfelt social media post, he explained that despite the professional success, he has been unable to relocate his family to South Carolina. He is therefore accepting a new position in Florida that will allow him to be with them. “I wish we could continue to chase As, Bs, Championships, and Degrees together, but our time is coming to an end,” Odaffer wrote. He expressed profound gratitude for his time with the program, stating, “It’s been a great run and nobody can ever take away what we accomplished together! We definitely left everything we touched better than we found it.”
His message was filled with appreciation for Coach Berry, the university communities, and the support his family received. “All Glory To God! The last 6 years at Benedict College and South Carolina State University have been amazing,” Odaffer began. He specifically thanked Berry “for blessing me with the opportunity to coordinate his defense for the last 5 seasons. It’s been an honor to make the journey with you and I appreciate your support more than you will ever know.”
The Odaffer-Berry partnership has been a remarkably productive one, tracing its roots back to the HBCU Division II level. In February 2020, Berry, then the head coach at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, hired Odaffer as his defensive coordinator. The impact was immediate and profound. Odaffer’s schemes and coaching transformed Benedict’s defense into a national powerhouse within Division II. Under his guidance, the Tigers consistently ranked at the very top of the division in critical statistical categories, including fourth-down defense, opponent first downs, passing yards allowed, and scoring defense.
The 2023 season at Benedict served as a masterclass in defensive rigor. Odaffer’s unit held opponents to under 10 points in seven games. During the entire regular season, only one opponent—Miles College in a 27-24 Benedict victory—managed to score more than 20 points against them. This defensive excellence was the engine for Benedict’s success, propelling them to two consecutive Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) championships and back-to-back bids to the NCAA Division II playoffs. Odaffer’s reputation as a defensive mastermind was firmly established.
When Chennis Berry was hired to lead the South Carolina State Bulldogs ahead of the 2024 season, bringing Odaffer with him was a non-negotiable priority. The transition from Division II to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) did nothing to diminish the effectiveness of Odaffer’s defensive philosophy. In fact, the Bulldogs’ defense quickly became the hallmark of the team and the foundation of its championship aspirations.
The 2024 season statistics tell the story of a unit operating at an elite level. South Carolina State finished the season ranked second in the MEAC in scoring defense, stifling opponents to an average of just 15.5 points per game. They were also second in total defense, allowing only 325 yards per game. Their most imposing statistic was a conference-leading rushing defense, which held teams to a meager 118.5 yards per game on the ground. Odaffer’s aggressive, ball-hawking style was also evident: his secondary secured a league-high 15 interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns, while his defensive line generated a conference-best 37 sacks and 12 forced fumbles.
This defensive prowess translated directly to on-field success, leading the Bulldogs to a MEAC championship and a berth in the Celebration Bowl, the premier postseason event for HBCU football.
The 2025 season was a carbon copy of defensive excellence, proving the first year was no fluke. Once again, Odaffer’s defense was a statistical juggernaut. They ranked second in the conference in scoring defense and second in total defense, limiting opponents to 339 yards per game. They were third against the run (134.1 yards per game) and second against the pass (204.9 yards per game). The turnover-centric identity remained, as the Bulldogs again led the MEAC with 14 interceptions, three being pick-sixes. This consistent, top-tier defensive performance was the critical factor in South Carolina State repeating as MEAC champions for a second straight year.
The culmination of this two-year run came in Atlanta at the 2025 Celebration Bowl. In a thrilling, four-overtime classic against Prairie View A&M, it was ultimately the resilience and toughness of Odaffer’s defense—tested repeatedly in high-leverage situations—that helped secure the national championship for the Bulldogs. The victory was a fitting apex for his tenure in Orangeburg.
Odaffer’s departure therefore leaves a substantial void. He was not just a coordinator but the architect of a defensive identity that defined South Carolina State’s championship era under Berry. His units were known for their discipline, physicality, and a keen ability to create game-changing turnovers. As a Florida A&M University graduate, his understanding of the HBCU landscape and its student-athletes added an invaluable layer to his coaching.
The focus now shifts to Head Coach Chennis Berry and the critical task of identifying a successor. The new defensive coordinator will inherit a unit with high expectations, accustomed to leading the conference and competing on a national stage. The challenge will be to maintain the standard of excellence that Odaffer established, a standard that directly resulted in two MEAC titles and a Celebration Bowl trophy.
For Jordan Odaffer, the next chapter awaits in Florida, close to his family. He leaves South Carolina State not just with championships, but with a legacy of transformative success. From building a dynasty at Benedict College to crafting a championship defense at South Carolina State, his six-year journey with Chennis Berry has been a model of coaching synergy and defensive innovation. His final statement—that they left everything they touched better than they found it—is not hyperbole but a measurable fact, reflected in conference standings, trophy cases, and the development of countless student-athletes. The Bulldogs’ quest for a third consecutive MEAC crown will now begin with a major question mark on the defensive side of the ball, underscoring just how significant Jordan Odaffer’s presence had become.