Construction begins on new football stadium
More than 150 people gathered in the sweltering heat to witness the groundbreaking for Coastal's new state- of-the-art football stadium. The $9.2 million facility, which will seat 8,200 when its first phase is completed, will be home for the Chanticleers' new NCAA I-AA football program. Coastal's first game is scheduled for September 6, 2003.

Breaking ground: More than 150 people gathered to witness the groundbreaking for Coastal's new state-of-the-art football stadium. (Left to right) Coastal's Board of Trustees members "Duke" Brown, Fred DuBard, Dan Moore; Chancellor Emeritus Dick Singleton; Warren "Moose" Koegel, director of athletics; and David Bennett, head football coach.

"This is a momentous occasion and yet another step toward the first season of football here at Coastal Carolina University," said Warren "Moose" Koegel, Coastal's director of athletics. "We are very excited to see construction begin on what will prove to be a great facility for our student- athletes and fans."

Hill Construction Inc., of Mt. Pleasant, is handling the construction of the stadium, which was designed by McMillan Smith & Partners of Spartanburg. The stadium is expected to be complete by July 2003.

Participating in the groundbreaking ceremony with Coastal administrators and area legislators were E. Burrow Hill III of Hill Construction, Ron G. Smith of McMillan Smith and Partners, and Coastal football players Maurice Simpkins of Leesville, S.C., and Chad Toothman of Myrtle Beach.

Hill Construction Inc., has built several sports facilities including The Tennis Center at Daniel Island, near Charleston, host of the WTA's Family Circle Cup and winner of the USTA's public tennis facility of the year award in 2001-2002, and Blackbaud Stadium, the state-of-the-art home of the A level Charleston Battery soccer team.

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Larrazabal honored with the Governor's Athletic Medal of Excellence
Coastal Carolina University graduate Alex Larrazabal was honored by former Gov. Jim Hodges with the Governor's Athletic Medal of Excellence.

Gov. Jim Hodges with Alex Larrazabal

Larrazabal, a native of Barcelona, Spain, earned the award after capturing the 2002 British Amateur Championship. By winning the British Amateur, Larrazabal earned a spot in last summer's British Open and the 2003 Masters.

The honor was created by Hodges to honor outstanding athletes in South Carolina. The medal also recognizes citizens who support athletes and athletic participation and achievement in the Palmetto State.

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Campbell takes Silver Medal in her international competition debut

Amber Campbell

In her debut in international competition, Amber Campbell threw the hammer 205 feet, 8 inches to claim the silver medal in the 2002 North America, Central America & Caribbean (NACAC) Under-25 Track and Field Championships. Campbell, the first Coastal athlete to make a U.S. national team, came close to her all-time best throw with her silver-winning toss. Campbell qualified for the meet by being one of the top two under-25 finishers at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in June. Campbell beat members of the 2000 USA Olympic Team at that meet and finished fourth overall. The NACAC championships feature athletes from 32 countries competing in 45 events. Each event features the top two under-25 athletes from each country.

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Koppel named Big South's top female scholar athlete
For the seventh consecutive year, a Coastal student-athlete has been selected the Big South Conference Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Kara Koppel, a senior on the Lady Chanticleer cross country and track and field teams, earned the award after being selected a Second Team Verizon Academic All-American and the Big South's Scholar Athlete of the Year in both cross country and outdoor track and field. The McDonald, Ohio, native has a perfect 4.0 grade point average as a psychology major. Koppel also earned the 2001 Big South women's cross country Scholar-Athlete award, a two-time Big South All-Conference honoree in cross country, and a two-time champion and All-Conference performer at the 2002 Big South indoor track championships. Koppel has been on the President's List at Coastal Carolina six times, the Big South's Presidential Honor Roll three times and was a member of the 2001 Big South All-Academic Teams in cross country and outdoor track and field. Coastal has garnered each of the seven Big South Female Scholar Athlete Awards, with six being won by members of the cross country and track programs. Angela Murphy won the first two awards in 1996 and 1997, while Jolene Williams took the next three awards. Jeanne Lambert of the Lady Chants' volleyball program earned the award in 2001.

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Men's and women's track tabbed Academic All-American teams
Coastal Carolina University's men's and women's track and field programs have been named 2002 All-Academic Teams by the National Collegiate Division I Track Coaches Association. The Lady Chanticleers rank sixth nationally with a 3.35 cumulative grade point average, while the Coastal men ranked seventh with a 3.07 team GPA.

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Owens named Big South 2001-2002 Male Athlete of the Year
Former Coastal baseball player Justin Owens has been named the Howard Bagwell Award winner, given to the most outstanding male athlete in the Big South Conference.

Justin Owens

Owens was named the Big South Conference Baseball Player of the Year after leading the conference with a .417 batting average. He was named a Third Team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball Magazine. He completed his four-year career at Coastal, ranking in the top 10 of 11 different offensive categories, and is the only player in Coastal history to rank in the top 10 of hits, doubles, triples and homeruns. Owens set the Coastal career record for runs scored (175) and holds the single season record for doubles (24). The Lincoln, R.I., native also is just the second player in Coastal history to have double-digit homers and stolen bases in two different seasons. Owens was drafted in the 33rd round of this year's MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays and was the 2002 Blue Jays Class A Player of the Year.

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