The Chanticleer

Coastal Carolina University's unique mascot

The Chanticleer – a proud and fierce rooster – is the unique moniker for Coastal Carolina University’s mascot and athletics teams. The Chanticleer is derived from Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, specifically The Nun’s Priest Tale.

In the early 1960s, Coastal’s athletic teams were known as the Trojans. A group of Coastal students and their English professor-basketball coach Cal Maddox brought up the idea of a new mascot. At the time, with Coastal serving as a two-year branch campus of the University of South Carolina, many people began to push for a nickname that was more closely related to USC's Gamecock. Thus, Chanticleer was born, giving Coastal its own identity and one of the most unique mascots in college athletics.  

For the best description of Chanticleer, we turn to Chaucer's words:

For crowing there was not his equal in all the land. His voice was merrier than the merry organ that plays in church, and his crowing from his resting place was more trustworthy than a clock. His comb was redder than fine coral and turreted like a castle wall, his bill was black and shone like a jet, and his legs and toes were like azure. His nails were whiter than the lily and his feathers were like burnished gold.

On July 1, 1993, Coastal Carolina became an independent public university, ending a 33-year relationship with the University of South Carolina. Some people thought that was the time to send the Chanticleer packing and make a complete split from USC. As he had before Coastal Carolina gained its independence and as he has since that time, the Chanticleer continues to overcome the battles and reigns supreme. The Chanticleer has made a name for himself and Coastal Carolina University around the world and has captured a place in the hearts of CCU fans.

• The proper pronunciation of Chanticleer is SHON-ti-clear.
• You may also hear Coastal's athletic teams referred to in abbreviated form as the Chants (SHONTS).
• The mascot is called Chauncey. 

As part of 2011 football Homecoming game, a new tradition began at Brooks Stadium when Maddox, the “live” mascot, made his debut. The new mascot received his name via student vote – and honors the legacy of former Coastal basketball coach and English professor Cal F. Maddox.

Note: Maddox (Callie Franklin Maddox Jr.) died Dec. 3, 2014, at the age of 79; his obituary included the following line: "He held positions at Coastal Carolina University (where he named the athletic mascot “Chanticleers” and where students voted to name their live mascot “Maddox”)...".

Evolution of the Chanticleer logo

1976

1984

1988

1995

2002