The Chanticleers currently compete in the Sun Belt Conference, which participates in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
In 2015, Coastal announced that it would start a transition to FBS in 2016, joining the Sun Belt Conference for all sports except football.
The program began in 2003, but in the 19 seasons from through 2021, Coastal won seven conference championships, five as co-champions and two outright.
Coastal Carolina beceame bowl-eligible in 2018,[2] and Chadwell became the program's third head coach on January 18, 2019.
[3] Upon Chadwell's departure to take the head coaching position at Liberty at the end of the 2022 regular season, defensive coordinator Chad Staggs led the Chanticleers in the Birmingham Bowl before being succeeded by NC State offensive coordinator Tim Beck.