OMAHA, Neb. — As the college sports landscape shifts with the removal of scholarship limits and the introduction of revenue sharing beginning July 1, many athletic programs outside the top-tier conferences are expected to struggle. However, Coastal Carolina, a finalist in the College World Series, remains determined to compete at the highest level in baseball.
Looking ahead, Division I baseball teams will have roster caps of 34 players, and according to Chance Miller, the first-year athletic director at Coastal Carolina, all players on their roster will be on full scholarships and eligible for direct revenue-sharing payments. Miller is confident that within two years, Coastal Carolina’s opportunities for earnings from name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals will be on par with those of larger conference teams.
Baseball is a cornerstone sport for Coastal Carolina. Since 1991, the Chanticleers have made 21 NCAA Tournament appearances, clinched the College World Series title in 2016, marking their first-ever national championship, and return this year with a 26-game winning streak as they face LSU in the finals, beginning Saturday night.
Coach Kevin Schnall attributes much of the team’s success to the unwavering support from the athletic administration. “They enabled us to assemble an exceptional coaching staff that competes with any in the country,” Schnall remarked. “They provide the resources needed for our players to reach their fullest potential. It’s truly a collective effort.”
Ahead of the changes, the budget has been reallocated to provide additional funds for scholarships without increasing institutional dependency. According to Miller, a significant amount of the revenue sharing for the 2025-26 cycle will come from donor contributions, including a major anonymous gift. A recent fundraising event in Omaha generated $1 million.
While Coastal Carolina’s baseball team is anticipated to earn roughly $200,000 collectively from NIL deals this year, retired coach Gary Gilmore highlighted the disparity by noting, “LSU pays that to one player.”
Miller projected that NIL earnings would inflate temporarily at major universities due mainly to early payments from NIL agreements, avoiding complications from the NIL clearinghouse mandates post-June 6 following a House settlement. “We consulted with a collective from a prominent school, and their NIL budget for the baseball team escalated from $2.5 million this year to $3 million, primarily due to advance payments. However, it will drop to $500,000 after that,” Miller explained.
Ensuring Coastal Carolina remains competitive in top-tier college baseball is Miller’s ongoing mission. “Our program’s core philosophy, from Coach Gary Gilmore’s pioneering period in the late ’90s, focused on Omaha aspirations,” stated Matt Hogue, the former athletic director now leading Coastal Carolina’s Center for Sports Broadcasting. “Our investments and strategies have always aimed at the College World Series as a realistic goal, not a fleeting achievement.”
LSU coach Jay Johnson acknowledged Coastal Carolina’s potential, comparing them to powerhouses like Gonzaga in basketball and Boise State in football, noting their sustained excellence. “Facing them isn’t surprising to me. With Coach Schnall’s leadership, they’ll remain contenders for years,” he commented.