Coastal Carolina renames athletic field house after Josh and Marrio Norman

Former Coastal Carolina football standout Josh Norman made a major donation to Coastal Carolina University, with a majority of that donation going to the expansion of Brooks Stadium. While the exact amount has been undisclosed, it is said to be the largest gift given to the university by a former Chanticleer student-athlete.

After Hurricane Florence ravaged the much of North and South Carolina, Norman donated $50,000 to Horry County Schools to help with recovery efforts.

In recognition of his philanthropic generosity to the university and the community, Coastal Carolina announced on Saturday, Nov. 3 that the athletics field house will be named the Marrio and Josh Norman Field House.

Marrio, Josh’s older brother, also played football at Coastal Carolina in 2004 and from 2006-2008. Both Marrio and Josh played together on the 2008 team. Marrio was a senior while Josh was a freshman.

In a release sent out by the university, Norman what this act of generosity means to him, his family and the community.

“My brothers and I grew up at Coastal,” Norman said. “We did everything at this University. From relationships, jobs and of course you can’t leave out the weekly parking tickets that plagued every student on campus. Coastal taught me a lot about myself, and I will never forget the impact the professors had on where I am today in life. The friends that I’ve made are life-timers. They, too, have gone on to do amazing things, and we will never forget the ones we lost due to illness and tragedy. You can never put a dollar amount on someone’s personal influence on your path in life. I am beyond grateful for my experience at Coastal Carolina University. For my two brothers [Marrio and Phillip] and I who passed through these halls, may our voices be heard from a time long ago as we watch the evolution of CCU as a growing titan.”

During their time at Coastal Carolina, both Marrio and Josh climbed the records books with Josh sometimes tying or surpassing his elder.

Marrio finished his career ranked in the school’s top-10 in interceptions, passes defended, pass breakups, punt returns, punt returns yards and average yards per punt return. In 2007, he recorded 53 tackles and five interceptions and was named first-team All-Big South.

In the Coastal Carolina record books, Josh is ranked first in pass breakups and passes defended, and is ranked in the top-six in interceptions, unassisted tackles, forced fumbles and blocked kicks. He was named first-team All-Big South Conference in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Norman is the only player in Big South history to play in both the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl. He was a finalist for the 2011 Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top defensive player at the NCAA FCS level. In 2012, Norman became the third-ever CCU football player to get drafted into the NFL.

Josh was an integral part of the Carolina Panthers team that went to Super Bowl 50 in 2016. Josh is now in his third season with the Washington Redskins.

Marrio’s professional career includes playing in the Arena Football League for Georgia, Cleveland, Orlando and his current team, the Albany Empire. He was named first-team All-Arena in 2014 while playing with the Cleveland Gladiators, and in 2018 with the Empire.

While a majority of Josh’s gift will be for the Brooks Stadium expansion project, a portion of his donation will go to help provide financial support for walk-on football student-athletes as well as CCU’s communication and theatre programs.

In the release sent out by Coastal Carolina University, Coastal Carolina football head coach Joe Moglia talked about Josh’s continued commitment to Coastal Carolina University.

It’s always important to have alumni, whether they are football players or not, who care enough about our University to make a long-term financial commitment,” said Moglia. “Hopefully, Josh’s commitment will set an example for others.”

Last year, Norman founded the Starz24 Foundation to help children through programs that emphasize fitness and teamwork. In 2017, he was inducted into CCU’s George F. “Buddy” Sasser Hall of Fame; and the CAF named him the 2016-17 Chanticleer of the Year. The University presented him an honorary doctorate of public service in June in recognition of his philanthropic efforts.

Josh’s number, 24, was also honored during a game on Nov. 5, 2016 at Brooks Stadium.