Holly Springs native new head coach at Charleston

Rasheed DeBerry had opportunities to leave Charleston High School and become a head football coach, but he chose to stay put.

For that, he has been rewarded. The 2006 graduate of Holly Springs High School was recently named the new top man for the Tigers. He replaces his mentor, LaDon Taylor, who will remain at Charleston as athletic director.

“I'm big on loyalty,” DeBerry said. “I have great relationships here, and my ultimate goal of becoming a head coach ended up happening here. I'm honored.”

DeBerry played football for coach Clifford Brown at Holly Springs High School. He earned his college degree at the University of Southern Mississippi. His first coaching job was back in his hometown, Holly Springs, starting in 2012. He worked as an assistant coach and then defensive coordinator before making the move to Charleston in 2018. He steps up to the head coaching job there after a few years as defensive coordinator.

“Coach Taylor and I have a great relationship, and I have learned a lot from him,” said DeBerry, 36. “He is passing the torch to me, and he will still be around as an advisor. It's a great situation for me.

“He has always held his assistant coaches to high expectations, too, and he has had a tremendous impact on me as far as moving into this head-coaching role.”

Charleston football is tradition-rich. The Tigers were state runners-up in 2022, state champions in 2023 and state runners-up again last season, 2024.

“I couldn't ask for a better opportunity,” DeBerry said. “I thank God for this opportunity. Sure, there's pressure, but I've felt that pressure since I've been here. That's pressure that you invite and accept. I'm in my element. I want to be where the expectations are high.”

He said Charleston lost a lot of talented seniors from the 2024 team but plenty of really good football players return.

“It's not quite a reload,” DeBerry said. “We know we have to earn it, and we're working. We plan to keep the big wheels rolling, and we hope that more good things are ahead of us.”

He is the son of Andre and Beautye DeBerry of Holly Springs. He and his wife Kedra have two children, a son, Kylan, 14, and a daughter, Mia, 7.

DeBerry said he will always acknowledge his roots and the people who influenced him along the way.

“I'm a hometown guy,” he said. “I love Holly Springs, and I will always be a Hawk at heart.”