4 Championship Coaches Unite for HBCU Legacy Bowl

Four coaches who just won championships are bringing their winning teams together for something bigger than bragging rights.

The 2026 Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl will reunite South Carolina State's Chennis Berry and Prairie View A&M's Tremaine Jackson, who coached against each other in December's nail-biting Celebration Bowl. Berry's Bulldogs edged Jackson's Panthers 40-38 in Atlanta for the Division I HBCU national championship.

Now they'll coach side by side, leading talented players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities in front of NFL scouts. Johnson C. Smith's Maurice Flowers and Florida A&M's Quinn Gray Sr. round out the coaching lineup, representing four different conferences and a combined record that speaks to a golden era for HBCU football.

Berry owns an impressive 46-13 career record and back-to-back championships at both Benedict College and South Carolina State. His teams are known for physical play and developing players who earn shots at the next level.

Jackson transformed Prairie View in just one season, delivering the program's first conference championship since 2009 with a 10-4 record. His defensive-minded approach quickly turned the Panthers into one of the SWAC's toughest teams.

Flowers has built Johnson C. Smith into a disciplined powerhouse, guiding the Golden Bulls to the 2025 CIAA championship with a 34-20 career record. Gray elevated Albany State into a consistent contender before taking over at his alma mater, Florida A&M, where he's working to restore the Rattlers' winning tradition.

The Ripple Effect

The Legacy Bowl does double duty as both celebration and opportunity. While fans get to see top HBCU talent compete on a national stage, players gain invaluable exposure to NFL executives and scouts who might otherwise overlook smaller programs.

These four coaches represent more than wins and losses. They're proof that HBCU football is thriving, developing championship-caliber talent and leadership that competes at every level.

Their combined success is opening doors for players who've earned their shot at professional dreams. The event in New Orleans will showcase athletes from schools that have historically faced funding and visibility challenges, giving them a platform equal to their abilities.

These championships aren't flukes or one-off successes. Berry's back-to-back titles at two different schools, Jackson's immediate turnaround, Flowers' sustained growth, and Gray's consistent winning show that HBCU programs are building something lasting.

A new generation of talent is rising through these programs.