On Monday night, as Benedictine Military School takes the field for the GHSA Cloass 4A state championship, all eyes will be on the players, their work, their sacrifice, and their defining moment.
But just behind them on the sideline stands a powerful, seldom-told story: a coaching staff built almost entirely from the very program it now leads.
Head coach Danny Britt isn’t just guiding a team to another title game. He oversees a staff of former Benedictine Cadets that spans nearly 50 years. These alumni walked the same hallways and wore the same uniform, and now pass along the same standards.
Carrie Harriet (1976) has a support role. Pat Parker (1983) coaches special teams. Sean Halsey (1992) assists with strength and conditioning. Galen Houston is the defensive coordinator (2004). AJ Defilippis(2008) is the offensive coordinator. Caleb Collins (2009) coaches wide receivers. Pat Fogerty (2012) coaches the offensive line. Levi Edwards (2013) coaches tight ends. Phillip Moore (2017) guides the defensive backs. Benedictine football is coached by its own legacy.
That continuity isn’t by chance. It reflects a deeper bond formed through shared experience and commitment to the program.
“I think it tells a lot about the school and the brotherhood that we talk about. These guys want to come back, they want to be a part of it, and help promote it on to the next generation. They truly love it. They’ve had opportunities to go elsewhere and do other things, but they truly love being a part of this school and what it is actually about, and it says a lot about the long-term impact of what the BC program has meant to all these players and alumni,” Britt said.
A Sideline That Tells a Story
Most programs talk about culture. Benedictine lives it.
On this staff, tradition isn’t written on a wall; it stands shoulder to shoulder on the sideline. Each coach represents a different era. They are shaped by unique teammates, seasons, and challenges. What unites them is a shared understanding of the program’s demands.
They don’t need to explain expectations to players; they lived them.
That connection brings instant credibility. When coaches speak, they teach from experience and pride. Their lessons come from memory, not just from clinics.
That lived experience is especially clear from the start. Toughness and trust define the offensive line group.
Pat Fogerty (’12) said, “Coach Cooper was the OL coach when I played at BC. He was a great coach and a great man. He coached with toughness that would make you a better player both physically and mentally. All the OL groups call themselves the Coopdawgs in his memory.”
“I think by trying to instill that toughness as a coach and putting them thru challenging drills at practice creates a trust within the group because they go thru it together and it helps strengthen that trust and brotherhood.”
Generations, One Standard
Alumni from the early 1980s to the late 2010s offer Benedictine a rare blend. Older generations reinforce discipline, accountability, and tradition. Younger coaches bring energy, relatability, and a modern grasp of today’s athlete.
“The game’s changed since 1983, and Pat Parker will tell you that, but there are things that carry over — hard work, respect, honor. The game can change, attitudes can change, but if those things carry over from generation to generation, that’s what we’re teaching not only in the football program, but in the entire school,” Britt said.
Galen Houston (’04) said, “The thing that never changes about the program is THE BROTHERHOOD and the expectation to compete and earn your success! We are a ‘no entitlement’ program. The best will play and you have to prove yourself daily!”
For Parker, the continuity is personal — and rooted in his own playing days.
Pat Parker (’83) said, “I played at BC. My senior year was 1983. We were undefeated in the regular season but lost to Statesboro in the first round. We were an elite team for this area, but did not have the elite players to vie for a state championship every year like now.”
“Coach Walsh was wonderful. Danny matches his intensity. Unlike back then, we now have access to almost every game an opponent has. There are very few secrets about how good an opposing team actually is.”
“We shared a bond because of the unique experiences as a student body, like the military. That made us close, just as this group is today.”
Together, those voices create balance—a program rooted in tradition, yet evolving with the game. You see this balance in practice, tempo, preparation, and the calm confidence Benedictine brings to big moments.
And at the center of it all is Britt, the common thread connecting every era.
More Than Football
Beyond the wins, the staff sends a message that goes deeper than a championship ring.
Current Cadets see more than coaches. They see what’s possible. They see former players who valued the program enough to come back. These coaches invest time and serve something bigger than themselves.
“It’s important to them. These guys are volunteering to be here. They just want to be a part of it. It’s important to them that it’s done right, that the kids do things a certain way. They want to be around it, and it’s enjoyable when it’s done right,” Britt said.
For Edwards, that pull brought him back across an ocean.
Levi Edwards (’13) said, “I never played at BC but worked as a student assistant for four years. I moved from the UK back to the US to teach and coach at BC. There is no place like it.”
“The tradition, the connection between people, the lessons young men learn whilst walking the halls really is unmatched.”
“Coming back to give to a place that shaped me—both in the classroom and on the field—was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up!”
That message resonates long after the final whistle.
A Brotherhood That Endures
When Britt first arrived in Savannah, he admits he didn’t fully understand what made Benedictine different. Over time, that understanding became personal.
Britt said, “When I first moved to Savannah, I wondered, What is going on over at Benedictine? It felt strange, people really loved that place. Years later, I’m glad I got the chance to find out. I want to be part of it. It’s unique, especially now, because we’re still making men. We make it hard. They have to choose hard every day and do it together. That’s why they want to come back. The brotherhood of working hard and succeeding never goes away.”
On Monday night, Benedictine will be playing for a state championship.
But win or lose, the program will already have proven something just as meaningful — that its greatest victories aren’t always measured on the scoreboard, but in the generations who return to pass it on.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Benedictine Communications Department
Photo note: Individual headshot of Coach Phillip Moore (’17) not available.
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