A Coastal Carolina football coach is defecting to rival App State. Here’s what to know
One of Coastal Carolina’s defensive coaches is heading to one of CCU’s most hated rivals in short order.
CCU’s cornerbacks coach Curtis Fuller will become a defensive assistant coach at Appalachian State, the university announced Dec. 30, 2024.
Fuller himself hinted he was on the move before Appalachian State made the announcement. He already updated his X, formerly known as Twitter, profile to include a photo of Appalachian State’s football field, Kidd Brewer Stadium, before the Mountaineers announced the hiring. Fuller’s profile also listed his location as Boone, North Carolina, home of the Mountaineers.
Coastal Carolina’s athletic department referred The Sun News to App State’s announcement.
Fuller’s departure for App State is the latest chapter in the Chanticleer Mountaineer rivalry. Over the years, fans of both schools have exchanged vitriol, sometimes directed at the opposing team’s players.
In 2023, App State fans flipped off CCU players during that year’s rivalry game, and Coastal memorialized the moment by placing a photo of the incident in their football offices. Fuller’s move also comes less than two years after Fuller joined Coastal Carolina.
Fuller took over CCU’s cornerbacks’ coach position in 2023 and helped orchestrate the Chanticleer’s pass defense the past two seasons. Fuller was part of Head Coach Tim Beck’s coaching staff that oversaw the program after former coach Jamey Chadwell’s departure to Liberty University.
During Fuller’s tenure, CCU finished second in 2023 for interceptions and eighth in 2024. CCU’s defense gave up the fourth most passing yards and tied for the most passing touchdowns allowed in the Sun Belt Conference during the 2024 season.
Despite this, CCU’s cornerbacks received recognition for their play in 2024. Cornerback Matthew McDoom was named All-Sun Belt First Team Defense before transferring to the University of Cincinnati, while fellow corner Juan Powell received an honorable mention.
Fuller has a long track record of coaching at all levels, specifically defense. He played defensive back in the NFL and coached as an assistant for several seasons. ESPN reported in 2018 that Fuller resigned as the Carolina Panthers’ defensive backs coach “amid complaints of workplace misconduct.”
This story was originally published December 30, 2024 at 3:22 PM.
