South Carolina State defensive coordinator Jordan Odaffer is stepping away from the Bulldogs after a whirlwind six‑year run that spanned two HBCU programs and produced multiple conference and national championships.
The veteran coach, who arrived in Orangeburg with head coach Chennis Berry after building a dominant “Purple Swarm” defense at Benedict College, said his decision is rooted in a desire to reunite with his family in Florida.
In an emotional farewell message on X, Odaffer reflected on six “amazing” years split between Benedict and South Carolina State, calling the opportunity to coordinate Berry’s defenses over the last five seasons “an honor” and thanking him for his unwavering support.
Odaffer used much of his statement to salute the Benedict and SC State campus communities for embracing his family and helping make this chapter of his career “truly special.”
He thanked staff members he has worked alongside for creating what he described as a great student‑athlete experience, noting that relationships that began as co‑workers evolved into a family he will deeply miss. He also expressed gratitude to every player he has coached, praising them for allowing him to pour into their lives and calling them “special young men.”
All Glory To God!#DigDeep #CWCW #HTR #BBB
Please read below: pic.twitter.com/DikekWfmCv
— Coach O @ SC State (@CoachJOdaffer) January 25, 2026
He leaves behind a résumé that reads like a checklist of modern HBCU football success. At Benedict, Odaffer’s defenses helped fuel back‑to‑back SIAC championships and Division II HBCU national titles in 2022 and 2023, with units that ranked among the nation’s elite in scoring defense, total defense and takeaways.
At South Carolina State, he was part of a swift resurgence that brought MEAC championships in 2024 and 2025 and culminated in a Celebration Bowl victory and HBCU national crown last season.
Odaffer admitted he wished he could continue chasing “As, Bs, Championships and Degrees” with his current group, but said geography finally forced a hard choice.
Unable to move his family to South Carolina, he has accepted a new position that will allow him to live and work closer to them in Florida.
Even as he departs, Odaffer said no one can take away what his teams accomplished together, insisting they “left everything we touched better than we found it.” He closed his message with a familiar sign‑off — “Be blessed and as always #DigDeep” — and a reference to Galatians 6:9, a final reminder that faith and perseverance have been central themes of his tenure at both Benedict and South Carolina State.
