Coastal Carolina University
The Coastal Educational Foundation gathered citizens in Conway, South Carolina to establish a post-secondary institution in 1954. They named the new school Coastal Carolina Junior College. Classes began meeting at night inside Conway High School under contract with the College of Charleston. Part-time faculty taught these early evening sessions for the fledgling community college. The arrangement lasted until 1958 when the contract expired and the school became independent. Horry County then provided tax money to support operations through a newly created commission. This body contracted with the University of South Carolina in 1960 to run the campus as a regional extension. A deal was finalized at the Chat 'n' Chew restaurant located in Turbeville. The site chosen sat between U.S. 501 and S.C. 544 on land owned by Burroughs Timber Company. The first building opened its doors in 1963 and later bore the name Edward M. Singleton Building.
Enrollment grew to over 4,000 students by 1991 prompting calls for independence from the state system. The Coastal Educational Foundation and Horry County Educational Commission sought full autonomy for the school. The board of trustees supported this move one year later. Governor Carroll Campbell signed a bill into law on the 1st of July 1993 transforming the institution. Ronald R. Ingle became the first president of the newly minted university named Coastal Carolina University. The ceremony took place on the steps of the Singleton Building. Enrollment reached 7,000 students in 2004 during the university's 50th anniversary celebration. The same year marked the opening of the first phase of the University Place housing complex across S.C. 544. Brooks Stadium opened shortly after with an inaugural football game against Newberry College on the 6th of September 2003. More than 8,000 people attended that first match at the new facility.
The university established its first doctoral degree program in coastal and marine science systems science in 2014. A local 1-cent sales tax funded construction projects throughout the 2010s including Brittain Hall which was originally dubbed Penny Hall. CCU earned a Research College and Universities designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education in 2025. This classification recognizes institutions investing at least $2.5 million annually in research and development. Fiscal year 2023 data showed expenditures reaching $4.7 million surpassing the required threshold. The Gupta College of Science houses four sea vessels for teaching and research purposes. The flagship vessel is the R/V Coastal Explorer measuring 54 feet in length. The Burroughs & Chapin Center serves as the research and community outreach arm of this college. Sunny Gupta donated major funding to rename the college of science in 2019. He graduated from the university in 1992 before becoming a software entrepreneur.
Kimbel Library opened in 1977 providing research collections to support students and faculty. The Bryan Information Commons added two stories to the library building with individual computer workstations. The HTC Recreation & Convocation Center opened in 2012 featuring a 3,370 multi-purpose arena. A LEED-certified design included a large workout area with cardio machines and weight training equipment. Students could access an indoor track or use group exercise studios within the facility. University Housing maintains residential communities housing 5,399 students across apartment-style and suite-style accommodations. The CCU Student Housing Foundation was created in 2003 to manage construction of student facilities. Thompson Library opened in Fall 2024 as a $29.8 million two-story structure spanning 64,000 square feet. John and Barbara Thompson provided a $4.425 million estate gift for the new library named after them. Kimbel Library underwent a $10 million renovation starting in 2021 including HVAC upgrades and interior redesigns.
The Chanticleer football team played its inaugural game on the 6th of September 2003 against Newberry College. Brooks Stadium seats 20,000 people and features distinctive teal artificial turf. Coastal Carolina announced leaving the Big South Conference following the 2015, 16 school year to transition to FBS-level football. The university joined all sports except football in the Sun Belt Conference on the 1st of July 2016. Football officially joined the conference in 2017. The baseball team won the College World Series in Omaha in 2016 defeating the University of Arizona 4, 3. This victory occurred mere hours before Coastal officially joined the Sun Belt Conference. The volleyball program won four consecutive conference championships between 2014 and 2017. Leah Hardeman became the only Division I player to win four conference player of the year awards from 2014 to 2017. TD Bank gave CCU a $5 million gift in 2013 leading to the renaming of facilities as the TD Sports Complex. A live rooster named Maddox appears periodically at home football games as the mascot.
The Lib Jackson Student Union serves as the hub for student life containing a 250-seat movie theater. The union also houses conference rooms and an entertainment area with gaming stations. About 13% of students are active in Greek system organizations totaling over 15 social groups. The Student Government Association allocates funds to clubs and organizations across campus. Elections for SGA positions occur each spring with two senators representing each grade and college. The SGA passed legislation creating the HTC Center and Rowdy Rooster while making CINO cards free to students. Intramural sports operate through the Department of Campus Recreation offering various activities. Club sports include rugby which won the Small College National Championship in 2009. The Chanticleer Rugby club also claimed the 2009 NSCRO Men's Division III Rugby tournament title. Student media outlets include The Chanticleer newspaper, Archarios magazine, Tempo features magazine, and WCCU online radio station. The university maintains residential communities housing thousands of undergraduates with diverse programming options.
Up Next
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When was Coastal Carolina University established and what was its original name?
The institution began as Coastal Carolina Junior College in 1954 when the Coastal Educational Foundation gathered citizens to establish a post-secondary school. Classes started meeting at night inside Conway High School under contract with the College of Charleston before becoming independent in 1958.
Who signed the bill transforming Coastal Carolina Junior College into Coastal Carolina University on July 1 1993?
Governor Carroll Campbell signed the bill into law on the 1st of July 1993 which transformed the institution into Coastal Carolina University. Ronald R. Ingle became the first president of the newly minted university during a ceremony held on the steps of the Singleton Building.
What doctoral degree program did Coastal Carolina University establish in 2014?
The university established its first doctoral degree program in coastal and marine science systems science in 2014. The Gupta College of Science houses four sea vessels for teaching and research purposes including the flagship vessel named the R/V Coastal Explorer measuring 54 feet in length.
Which year did Thompson Library open and how much funding supported its construction?
Thompson Library opened in Fall 2024 as a $29.8 million two-story structure spanning 64,000 square feet. John and Barbara Thompson provided a $4.425 million estate gift for the new library named after them to support students and faculty.
When did the Chanticleer football team play its inaugural game at Brooks Stadium against Newberry College?
The Chanticleer football team played its inaugural game on the 6th of September 2003 against Newberry College at Brooks Stadium. More than 8,000 people attended that first match at the new facility which seats 20,000 people and features distinctive teal artificial turf.