A Fresh Start
Coastal Carolina’s men’s soccer team opens its 2026 campaign on August 20 with a road test against No. 2 ranked NC State in Raleigh, North Carolina. The matchup pits the Chanticleers against a top‑ranked opponent as they look to turn the page after a 3‑9‑2 record in 2025.
Last season the squad finished eighth in the Sun Belt Conference with two shutouts, but was preseasoned to finish ninth with 25 points. The 2025 record of three wins, nine draws and two losses left the team with a modest foundation to build upon.
The 2026 schedule features 16 regular‑season games, eight of which will be played at the CCU Soccer Complex. The home slate offers the team a chance to leverage familiar surroundings while integrating a fresh influx of talent.
Roster turnover is significant: five veterans return while 20 newcomers arrive, creating a blend of experience and youth. The squad includes seven freshmen, seven sophomores, eight juniors and three seniors, and represents seven countries — Argentina, England, Ghana, Iceland, Ireland, Spain and the United States.
Domestically, 16 players hail from 13 different states, spanning Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina and Texas. This geographic diversity underscores the program’s national reach.
Leading the charge is Adam Perron, the fifth head coach in Coastal Carolina history and the first to transition from a six‑year tenure as an associate coach at the University of Virginia. Perron previously served on staffs at James Madison University, Southern New Hampshire University, Ohio State University and Seacoast United Academy.
Perron’s coaching team includes assistants Nick Melville, Will Lukowski and Chay Strine. Melville joins from James Madison, while Lukowski and Strine bring additional collegiate experience that should help shape the group’s development throughout the season.