Coastal Carolina Launches Baseball-Specific NIL Collective

Legacy 14 Baseball Collective to help Coastal Carolina remain competitive nationally

Coastal Carolina's baseball program is notorious for landing top talent under legendary head coach Gary Gilmore, who led the team to a College World Series title in 2016. However, recruiting and retaining players in the era of name, image, and likeness has created a whole different ball game.

The Legacy 14 Baseball Collective, founded by Chanticleer baseball supporters, launched its website on January 4 and will help the program remain competitive in the new NIL era.

"You see kids all the time, especially from mid-majors, going to these SEC and ACC schools," said Neal Hendrick, co-founder of the collective. "You can’t compete if you don't have [a collective] this day and age, so we have to find a way to do it."

The collective was named in honor of Coach Gilmore, who wears jersey No. 14, and will be retiring at the end of the season after nearly three decades leading the team. Kevin Schnall – currently serving as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator – will take over the head coaching position for the 2025 season.

The new baseball-focused collective has already demonstrated early success, having signed eight returning players from last year's team. Through paid memberships and contributions, fans get access to exclusive and unique experiences with the student-athletes.

The Chants are currently No. 25 in Perfect Game's preseason rankings and look to improve their place in the rankings among the nation's top programs with the help of the collective. 

"I was kind of shocked we were 25th in that because I fully expect us to be a Top 15, Top 10 club," Hendrick said. "So I mean, that's great to have in your backyard right here on the Grand Strand and it certainly gives them [donors] some level of investment. If they've given to the collective and helped support what we're doing to keep these guys around, that level investment certainly takes it to the next level rather than just being a fan … Baseball only gets 11.7 scholarships … We're not like Texas A&M or Tennessee or South Carolina or some of the big dogs of the baseball world … that are paying these kids a ton of money."

As Coastal Carolina's baseball program charts its course in the dynamic landscape of name, image, and likeness, the Legacy 14 Baseball Collective stands as a testament to the community's love and commitment to the team, while creating a lasting legacy for Coach Gilmore's impactful tenure.