Long-time Coastal Carolina athletics director Matt Hogue is transitioning out of athletics into a new role on campus, as the Myrtle Beach Sun News first reported and confirmed by SportsTalk SC on Thursday night. According to sources, he will transition over to the Humanities department and spearhead a new broadcasting major program at CCU. Hogue told athletic department staff of his decision in a meeting on Thursday afternoon.
It’s a natural fit for Hogue, who was the radio “voice” of the Chanticleers for seventeen years prior to being named director of athletics at CCU in 2015 after serving as interim director starting in March 2014. His title was changed to Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics and University Recreation in 2021.
Under his watch, CCU athletics has enjoyed tremendous success, including winning the baseball national championship in 2016, during which Hogue called the final few outs of the World Series win versus Arizona on radio. He also helped the university transition from FCS-level football to the FBS, joining the Sun Belt Conference for the 2016–2017 athletic year. This past fall, the football team secured its second bowl victory with a 24-14 victory over San Jose State at the Hawai’i Bowl in December.
Overall, CCU athletic teams have won 14 conference regular-season championships as well as 17 conference tournament championships during Hogue’s tenure.
At the moment, it is unclear who will replace Hogue as athletics director. However, it appears Hogue will remain AD until the end of this athletic season, as he is also serving as the chair of the D1 baseball selection committee this spring.
CCU Media Release: Coastal Carolina University will soon begin the development of an academic center devoted to training the next generation of leaders in sports broadcasting. Matt Hogue, broadcast veteran and vice president for intercollegiate athletics and University recreation, will transition to a new role in the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts to take the lead in this endeavor, effective July 15, 2024. A national search for a new vice president for intercollegiate athletics and University recreation will begin immediately.
“As the University’s longest-serving director of athletics, Matt has led Chanticleer Athletics to new heights,” said President Michael T. Benson. “He has witnessed first-hand the astronomical growth of our programs and overseen the most successful period of Chanticleer athletics. I thank Matt for his superb work and commend him for his continued commitment to Coastal Carolina University and our students. Given his wealth of experience and sports broadcasting background, he is uniquely qualified to lead this new academic endeavor.”
Hogue was named the interim director of athletics in 2014, became director of athletics in 2015, and was promoted to vice president in April 2021. During his tenure, he played a key role in CCU joining the Sun Belt Conference and transitioning to the Football Bowl Subdivision – the highest level in intercollegiate athletics. In 2016, he witnessed the Chanticleer baseball program win the University’s first-ever national title as it captured the College World Series championship.
A 25-year broadcast veteran, Hogue is well known for his 17-year stint as the “Voice of the Chanticleers” on the Chanticleer Sports Network, providing live game broadcasts, features, and weekly programs about CCU athletics.
“President Benson and I have discussed this idea [center devoted to sports broadcasting] in the past and now is the right time to move forward with it,” said Hogue. “I look forward to working with the Edwards College faculty on this new academic endeavor.
“My tenure at Coastal Carolina University spans nearly 30 years, and I have had the unique opportunity to work in administrative roles both inside and outside of athletics. I am excited about this new chapter with the University.”
Hogue was named the 2020-21 Athletics Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics — one of only four recipients of this award at the FBS level. He is also a member of the NCAA Division I baseball selection committee, representing CCU and the Sun Belt Conference since August 2020.
Joe Moglia will continue in his role as executive advisor to the president but will no longer serve as chair of athletics and executive director of football once the new athletic director is hired.
