DALLAS, Texas – Conference USA has announced the addition of Coastal Carolina University as an affiliate member for the sport of men's soccer. The Chanticleers will begin play in C-USA for the fall, 2021 season.
"This is great news for Conference USA men's soccer," said ODU head coach Alan Dawson. "Adding another national contender elevates our stature as one of the best conferences in the country."
The addition of Coastal Carolina will return Conference USA to nine men's soccer members as it competed with from 2014-2019. Charlotte, FIU, Florida Atlantic, Marshall, Old Dominion and UAB are joined by affiliate members Coastal Carolina, Kentucky and South Carolina.
"Coastal Carolina is a nationally-respected and accomplished men's soccer program," said C-USA Commissioner Judy MacLeod. "Adding them to an already strong lineup of teams will further enhance one of the conference's most successful sports."
Conference USA has produced multiple NCAA Tournament teams in each of the last 10 seasons, including four participants in six of those campaigns.
"Joining C-USA and its strong soccer membership will only strengthen our program's stature and assist in reaching our competitive goals, said Coastal Carolina Director of Athletics Matt Hogue. "We are thrilled to begin this new partnership and thank Commissioner MacLeod and the C-USA Board of Directors for recognizing our program's success and extending the affiliate invitation."
Coastal Carolina began the spring, 2021 season nationally-ranked in three different polls. The Chanticleers scheduled eight spring games after a fall season that saw them finish 6-1-1, capturing the Sun Belt Conference Championship title and registering five shutout victories. Included on the spring slate is a March 30th match vs. Charlotte at CCU Soccer Stadium in Conway, South Carolina.
The Coastal Carolina men's soccer program has won 15 conference regular-season championships, 16 conference tournament titles, and will be making its 17th NCAA Championship Tournament appearance this year. The Chanticleers have reached the NCAA Tournament's Round of 16 five times, including four times under head coach Shaun Docking, and has totaled 15 NCAA Tournament wins in program history.
Entering the 2021 spring season this year due to COVID-19, the Chanticleers have won 148 games since 2010, which is second nationally behind only Akron during that span. Coastal has had 13 MLS SuperDraft Draftees, including Tor Saunders in this year's draft, 11 All-American honors, six NSCAA/CoSIDA Scholar All-Americans, 23 NSCAA/USC All-Region selections, nine conference player of the year award winners, and 82 all-conference honorees.
The 2021 fall men's soccer season will begin in late August.
C-USA Adds Coastal Carolina as Men's Soccer Member
