This is a big year as head coach Tim Beck enters his third season at Coastal Carolina.
As recently as 2020 and 2021, the Chanticleers won 11 games each season. Beck took over after a 9-4 record in 2022, and he has produced 8-5 and 6-7 seasons, respectively. Last season ended on a down note when Coastal Carolina lost 44-15 to UTSA in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.
In the aftermath of a sub .500 season, there has been a coaching staff upheaval, including new offensive and defensive coordinators.
Drew Hollingshead, the co-offensive coordinator the past two seasons at Western Kentucky, is the Chanticleers’ new OC. Jeremiah Johnson, the defensive coordinator last season for Louisiana Tech, will have the same position at Coastal Carolina.
Common in college football, there are also plenty of newcomers.
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Coastal Carolina Football’s Sun Belt Title Betting Odds
Coastal Carolina’s odds to win the Sun Belt are +2000, via BetMGM.
Coastal Carolina Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
- CCU’s win total Over/Under is 5.5.
- The Under is at -135.
- The Over is at +110.
Coastal Carolina Football’s 2025 Schedule
- 8/30 at Virginia
- 9/6 vs Charleston Southern
- 9/13 vs East Carolina
- 9/20 at South Alabama
- 10/4 at Old Dominion
- 10/11 vs ULM
- 10/18 at Appalachian State
- 10/30 vs Marshall
- 11/8 vs Georgia State
- 11/15 at Georgia Southern
- 11/22 at South Carolina
- 11/29 vs James Madison
Bold indicates SBC contests
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Key Coastal Carolina Football Returners
2024 All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention
LB Shane Bruce
OL Nick Del Grande
Coastal Carolina Season Preview
Coastal Carolina’s top two quarterbacks from last year have transferred, leaving several players to battle for the position.
CCU’s Quarterback Battle
Two well-traveled transfers are MJ Morris and Emmett Brown. Morris is transferring from Maryland after beginning his career at NC State. Last season for Maryland, he appeared in seven games, completing 36 of 61 passes for 350 yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Brown began his career at Washington State and played last season for San Jose State, where he completed 57.6% of his passes for 1,621 yards, 16 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
A third candidate is redshirt sophomore Tad Hudson, who redshirted his first year at North Carolina before transferring to Coastal Carolina last season. Hudson started one game for CCU last year, the bowl loss to UTSA, where he completed 17 of 24 passes for 173 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Also in the mix is dual-threat QB Samari Collier, who comes from Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College.
CCU’s Offensive Weapons
Whoever wins the quarterback job will be able to utilize an experienced receiving corp. Jameson Tucker, who enters his fifth season at Coastal Carolina, had 33 receptions for 574 yards and six touchdowns. Bryson Graves had 27 receptions for 327 yards and two scores.
The running game should be boosted by UMass transfer Jalen John, who rushed for 583 yards and five touchdowns last season for the Minutemen.
Tackle Nick Del Grande, an honorable mention All-Sun Belt selection in 2024, heads up the offensive line along with center Thomas Johnson.
Shane Bruce Is Coastal Carolina’s Defensive Leader
Coastal Carolina’s defense is led by graduate linebacker Shane Bruce, who recorded a team-high 75 tackles last season. Wyatt Gedeon, who had 36 tackles in 10 games, is another returning experienced linebacker.
A leading returning defensive lineman is graduate nose tackle Sawyer Goram-Welch, who recorded 32 tackles in 11 games last season for the Chanticleers.
Coastal Carolina will welcome the return of safety Dre Pinckney, who was limited to one game last season due to injury. This came after he appeared in 11 games during the 2023 season.
Zach Cody offers experience at cornerback after appearing in 12 games last season as a true freshman, making 15 tackles.
Coastal Carolina Football Season Prediction
I don’t expect Coastal Carolina to be a contender in the Sun Belt, and I predict the Chanticleers will win five games.
There is just too much turnover, both with the coaching staff and with players, to see Coastal Carolina winning more games. If Coastal Carolina can go 5-5 in its first 10 games, which is truly possible, the Chanticleers would have to upset either South Carolina or James Madison to become bowl-eligible. That seems like a tall task.
