St. Benedict athletic director and football coach Mitch McDaniel has resigned from those positions, according to a letter from St. Benedict obtained by The Commercial Appeal on Sept. 22
McDaniel’s resignation comes days after the TSSAA ruled that St. Benedict had to forfeit the first three games of its 2026 football season for using an ineligible player. The school also paid a $300 fine.
The TSSAA rule confirmed the ineligible player is unable to participate in the next six varsity games, according to a letter the CA obtained. The TSSAA also stated that St. Benedict was notified of the players ineligibility on Aug 4, over two weeks before the beginning of the football season.
During his tenure at SBA, Coach McDaniel brought exceptional energy,
enthusiasm and dedication to our athletic program,” Villacura stated in the letter. “His work rebuilding our football program has been transformative. He and his coaching staff have been instrumental in raising the competitive level of our team and creating meaningful opportunities for our student-athletes to grow, both on and off the field. The foundation he has built will serve our program in the future.”
McDaniel coached one full season with the Eagles, finishing with a 4-6 record in 2025. The program was 1-4 after the first five weeks of the season but is 1-4 after the forfeits.
The Commercial Appeal has attempted to reach out to McDaniel for comment with no response.
St. Benedict defensive coordinator Kevin Cobbs has been named interim football coach for the remainder of the season. Cobbs is also the athletic director at St. Francis of Assisi, a Catholic school in Cordova.
St. Benedict is set to begin region play in Division II-AA against Northpoint Christian on Sept. 25.
Reach The Commercial Appeal’s high school writer Ryan Myers at ryan.myers@commercialappeal.com and on X @RyanMyers_23.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: St. Benedict football coach Mitch McDaniel resigns after program forfeited three TSSAA games
