The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team is set to open its 2026 season on Saturday at noon, facing West Virginia University at Milan Puskar Stadium. This game marks the beginning of a new era for the Chanticleers under new head coach Ryan Beard, who previously coached at Missouri State, guiding the Bears through a transition from FCS to FBS and into Conference USA.
Coach Beard takes over from Tim Beck, who concluded his three-season tenure with a 20-18 record. The Chanticleers finished the 2025 season with a 6-6 record, which included a four-game winning streak in October and November with victories over Marshall and Georgia State. However, the season ended with a three-game losing streak, including setbacks against South Carolina and James Madison, and a 23-14 loss to Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl under interim coach Jeremiah Johnson.
Coastal Carolina’s offense will feature redshirt freshman quarterback Deuce Bailey, who transferred from Missouri State with Coach Beard. Bailey, who completed 23 of 47 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns last season, will work with offensive coordinator Nick Petrino. Sophomore Tristian Gardner, also from Missouri State, is expected to be a key target after recording 465 receiving yards and six touchdowns as a freshman. The running back corps includes sophomores Jevon Edwards and Dominic Lee-Knicely, who combined for 756 rushing yards last season. The offensive line is expected to feature an entirely new group of transfer players.
Defensively, the Chanticleers bring back more experienced talent. Cornerback Ja’Marion Wayne, a first-team All-Sun Belt preseason selection, recorded 61 tackles and seven pass breakups in 2025. Junior safety Myles Woods led the team with three interceptions last season and will be joined by South Dakota State transfer Jalen Lee. The linebacking unit includes fifth-year senior Tray Brown, a second-team All-Sun Belt preseason selection, and junior Se’Von McDowell, who together amassed 104 tackles and 16 tackles for loss last season. Transfer edge rushers Donovan Grayson from Samford and Chandavian Bradley from Tennessee are expected to boost the pass rush, a noted issue in 2025. Defensive coordinator L.D. Scott, another Missouri State import, plans to implement a four-man front to maximize defensive talent.
On special teams, senior Nico Cavanillas Alti from Madrid, Spain, is favored for the kicking job, having helped South Carolina State win the HBCU national championship last season. He will compete with Daniel Porto, who converted 17 of 21 field-goal attempts for Florida A&M. Redshirt freshman Roland Podesta, an Australian rugby league player, is the leading candidate for punter. Miami transfer Robby Washington and Tristian Gardner are expected to handle return duties.
This will be only the second meeting between West Virginia and Coastal Carolina. The Mountaineers previously shut out the Chanticleers 31-0 in 2010 when Coastal Carolina was an FCS program.
