How Did Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Get Their Name?
The Tale Behind the Name
The Chanticleer, Coastal Carolina University's unique mascot, is derived from Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, specifically The Nun's Priest Tale. The Chanticleer is a proud and fierce rooster, described in Chaucer's words as having a voice "merrier than the merry organ that plays in church."
From Trojans to Chanticleers
In the early 1960s, Coastal's athletic teams were known as the Trojans. A group of students and their English professor-basketball coach, Cal Maddox, initiated the idea of a new mascot. At that time, Coastal was a two-year branch campus of the University of South Carolina. The community began to push for a nickname more closely related to USC's Gamecock, leading to the birth of the Chanticleer.
Independence and Identity
On July 1, 1993, Coastal Carolina became an independent public university, ending its 33-year relationship with the University of South Carolina. Despite this, the Chanticleer continued to be the mascot, capturing a place in the hearts of CCU fans worldwide.
The Legacy of Cal Maddox
As part of the 2011 football Homecoming game, a new tradition began when Maddox, the "live" mascot, made his debut. This mascot received his name via student vote, honoring the legacy of former Coastal basketball coach and English professor Cal F. Maddox.
