New Man Beard Kicks Off a Ground-Up Rebuild in Conway
Coastal Carolina went 6-7 (5-3 Sun Belt, third in the East) in 2025 and reached a bowl, but the offseason reshaped the roster from the studs out. After the dismissal of Tim Beck, the Chanticleers handed the program to Ryan Beard, who arrives from Missouri State with a nearly complete new coaching staff in tow. More than 50 newcomers, including at least 38 from the transfer portal along with a high school class and a handful of junior college additions, headline one of the most dramatic overhauls in the league.
Beard, offensive coordinator Nick Petrino and defensive coordinator L.D. Scott are all in their 30s, and the operation has the feel of a from-scratch build. Petrino installs a pro-style attack that frequently puts the quarterback under center. How quickly this wave of transfers comes together will decide whether the Chanticleers hold their footing or slip in a deep Sun Belt.
Offense
The most important job on the roster is also the least settled. The competition runs several deep, led by junior college transfer Tre Guerra, who threw for 2,811 yards at Tyler JC, and redshirt freshman Deuce Bailey, who arrived from Missouri State after logging 335 yards over three games there. Trever Jackson, a transfer who saw brief action in 2025, and touchdown-prolific true freshman Osiris Lopez are also in the mix, and all of the contenders bring run-pass versatility.
Guerra and Bailey both drew praise from the staff in the spring, but the pecking order remained genuinely open coming out of camp, and the position stands as the clearest question mark on the team.
This is a spot with real promise. Robby Washington is the top returning target after catching 29 passes for 259 yards while starting four games, and he pairs with Clayton Coppock Jr., a Kennesaw State transfer who earned freshman all-conference recognition with 28 grabs for 311 yards. Karmello English (20 receptions, 185 yards) adds another proven body, and Colton Hinton is in the rotation.
Zach Courtney is a returning starter at tight end and gives Petrino a reliable move piece, with FCS transfer Cyrus Ellison from South Carolina State projecting as another featured target.
With 2025 leading rusher Ja'Vin Simpkins gone to Delaware, the backfield leans on Dominic Knicely, who ran for 338 yards a year ago, and newcomer Daelen Alexander, who piled up 392 yards at Rice. Both have a role to play, and the position is viewed as one of the offense's steadier groups. Knicely's speed also makes him a factor in the return game.
The front is the biggest concern on this side of the ball. Both starting tackles departed for Power 4 programs, with Nick Del Grande headed to Duke and Joe Hanson to Oklahoma State, leaving gaping holes on the edges and questions inside. Beard responded with a heavy dose of offseason additions, and a group featuring Gavin McLaughlin, Kain McDonald, Tray Franklin, Cristian Loaiza, Apisa Poumele and Mason Barton must jell in a hurry to protect a first-year quarterback.
Defense
Scott believes the line will be the strength of his defense, and the pass rush should be noticeably improved. Oklahoma State transfer Chandavian Bradley and Samford transfer Donovan Grayson both flashed off the edge in the spring, and senior Ibrahim Diawara adds veteran presence at defensive end. A largely experienced group of transfers, including Reggie Jean, Xzavier Booker and Cam Williams, mans the interior.
This is the anchor of the defense. Tray Brown (54 tackles) and Se'Von McDowell (48) both withdrew from the portal to return, a significant boost, and Wyatt Gedeon adds another veteran body. Michigan State transfer Marcellius Pulliam, who began his career at Miami, projects as a key figure in the rotation and gives the unit welcome depth.
The secondary keeps two of its best. Cornerback Ja'Marion Wayne pulled his name from the portal and returns as the team's leading returning tackler with 61 stops, while Myles Woods (45 tackles, three interceptions) is a proven playmaker on the other side. Chris Henry offers experienced depth, and FCS transfer safety Jalen Lee from South Dakota State is a welcome addition alongside veteran Dre Pinckney.
The kicking job is an open competition between two 2025 all-conference transfers, Nico Cavanillas Alti from South Carolina State, who made 15 of 19 field goals last season, and Daniel Porto from Florida A&M. Punter Emile Sebafundi is a real asset, returning after averaging 42.7 yards per punt with 15 downed inside the 20 and only four touchbacks. Washington, Hinton and English are punt return candidates, while Krosse Johnson, Breyahn Townsend and Knicely bring speed to kickoff returns.
Overview and Prediction
The schedule offers no easy runway. Coastal opens at West Virginia before a home date with Fordham, then navigates a Sun Belt slate that includes trips to Marshall, Georgia State, Louisiana and James Madison, plus home tests against Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, Old Dominion and Arkansas State.
The preseason consensus is skeptical, slotting the Chanticleers near the bottom of the Sun Belt and around 119th nationally as they absorb so much turnover at once. The verdict here is a rebuilding year in which a great deal has to fall right. The make-or-break is simple: the coaching staff must settle the quarterback question quickly and get this enormous transfer class playing as one. If the line holds up and the defensive front delivers the promised pass rush, a return to bowl contention is possible, but the margin looks thin.