Coastal Carolina Chanticleers head coach Kevin Schnall was ejected from the NCAA Men’s College World Series in the first inning of his team’s game against the LSU Tigers after an argument with umpire Angel Campos. The incident, which occurred during a pivotal matchup, sparked controversy as Schnall claimed he was wrongly accused of bumping Campos, who reportedly tripped over his foot during the commotion. Schnall argued that the umpire had fallen in front of 25,000 fans and that he was not responsible for the incident, emphasizing that the ejection was excessive. He criticized the NCAA for the way the event was handled, pointing to video footage that supported his claims.
The NCAA’s official statement clarified that Schnall was ejected for arguing balls and strikes, which was audible on the broadcast. It also noted that Schnall received a warning from the umpire, but the ejection occurred after the initial argument. Schnall expressed frustration, stating that the process for handling such incidents in championship games needed re-evaluation. He added that he wasn’t sorry for what happened and that he felt the ejection was unwarranted, given the circumstances. The ejection reportedly altered the trajectory of the game, as Coastal Carolina was in a must-win situation following their loss.
Coastal Carolina’s athletic director, Chance Miller, criticized the decisions made by the NCAA, calling the ejections ‘alarming’ and lacking in de-escalation. Miller argued that the team’s student-athletes were deprived of the leadership they had relied on during the historic postseason run. He implored the NCAA to review its umpire training and assignments, particularly in high-stakes environments like the College World Series. Schnall and first-base coach Matt Schilling are facing a two-game suspension due to prolonged arguing, with the punishment set to take effect in the 2026 season following LSU’s sweep of the series.
Schnall’s comments highlighted the tension between coaches and umpires in high-pressure games and raised questions about the fairness of disciplinary actions against coaches. His frustration with the ejection underscores the broader debate over how decisions are made and enforced during championship events, where the stakes are highest for both the teams and the athletes involved.