Aug 10, 20233 min read

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 2023 Preview

Last Season

In what would end up being Jamey Chadwell’s last year at the helm of the Chanticleers, he led Coastal to a 9-4 record, winning the Sun Belt East Division. The Chants were able to crack into the top 25 for two straight weeks, being ranked 23rd for weeks 12 and 13. The postseason, however, was rough for the Chanticleers, losing both the Sun Belt Championship Game to Troy by a score of 45-26 before losing to East Carolina in the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl by a score of 53-29.

What Has Changed

The biggest change in Conway is the man at the helm. Former head coach Jamey Chadwell decided to make the move to Liberty, agreeing on a seven-year contract that will pay Chadwell $4 million a year. Coming in to replace him is former North Carolina State offensive coordinator Tim Beck. Beck comes to Conway after leading the Wolfpack offense for the past three seasons while also serving as the quarterback coach. On the field, the main changes will come on the offensive front. Local Evan Jumper, who played high school ball for Myrtle Beach, transferred back home from Furman for his final season of eligibility. Two new tight ends, Cane Berrong and Kendall Karr, give the returning Grayson McCall some big targets to look for in the passing game this season.

Season Preview

There will be two big themes in the 2023 season for the Chanticleers. The first is, how will Grayson McCall perform in his final year in college and can he further improve his draft stock? The second will be, how does Tim Beck fair in his first-ever head coaching role. Can he continue the progress that started with Jamey Chadwell? The first should be an easy route, especially with all of McCall’s weapons returning from last season. The second question will be the deciding factor to whether the Chanticleers can rise to the levels expected of them this season. With Beck’s focus on offense and all of the pieces returning, there is no doubt that Coastal will be an offensive juggernaut in 2023. As long as the defense holds up their end of the bargain the sky’s the limit for the Chanticleers this season. Looking at the schedule itself, as long as the Chants can get through the first week of the season intact (and perhaps even with a win) the rest of the year should be smooth sailing. The biggest test of the season will come in their Week 1 matchup in Los Angeles against UCLA. Their biggest in-conference game will be their road trip to Boone to face Appalachian State.

Schedule/Predictions

@UCLA- W 28-24

Jacksonville State- W 56-7

Duquesne- W 49-7

Georgia State- W 35-14

@Georgia Southern- W 21-17

@Appalachian State- W 24-21

@Arkansas State- W 35-14

Marshall- W 42-24

@Old Dominion- W 49-10

Texas State- W 42-21

@Army- W 28-7

James Madison- W 24-21

Final Record/Postseason Prediction

12-0, Sun Belt Champions, Cure Bowl

Final Thoughts

While normally a change at the top would create some disruption in a program, Coastal returns enough of last year’s talented squad to overcome the challenges brought on by a new head coach (see UCF in 2018 with Josh Heupel following Scott Frost’s departure to Nebraska). This team has enough talent and cohesiveness to win, even with a new system being put in place. If this was next year, a College Football Playoff berth could have been in their future. However, with the system and conferences the way they are this season, they will more than likely miss out on a New Year's Six bowl due to the American Athletic Conference. In spite of this, the 2023 season looks to be another bright spot and another step in building Coastal Carolina into a national power.