Southern Virginia University

Defensive Coordinator Rick Berry joins the Southern Virginia University staff after spending the past two years as the Head Coach for Desert Hills High School in St. George, Utah, where he compiled a 19-5 overall record. During his first season (2021) at Desert Hills, Berry led his team to an undefeated region title. Last season (2022), Berry's team won the Utah 4A State Championship while recording a combined 3.5 GPA. 
 
Before his time at Desert Hills, Berry served as the Defensive Coordinator for Dixie High School for several years, helping lead the team to a Utah 4A Region 10 State Championship. Under Berry's guidance, the Flyer's defense allowed only 21.7 points per game in 2019, before improving that sat to 19.2 points per game during the 2020 season. 
 
"Coach Berry is highly respected throughout the profession and will add tremendous value to our program," stated Head Coach Joe DuPaix. "His wealth of knowledge and passion for football will be contagious amongst our players. As good as he is as a football coach, he's an even better man who our team will learn to love. I can't wait to see our defense flying around."
 
Berry started his coaching career at Rick's College, now BYU-Idaho, for nine years before joining Dixie State University, now Utah Tech, in 2006 when the program transitioned from JUCO to Division II.
 
Berry has his eyes set on "completely changing the culture and direction of the defensive unit," while coaching the players to "attack and be aggressive while not sitting back." Last season, the Knights finished ninth in the USA South in total defense.