Charles Coleman Thach was born March 15, 1860, in Athens, Alabama. He was the son of Robert Henry Thach and Eliza Lockhart (Coleman) Thach of Mooresville, Limestone County, Alabama. His father served in the Confederate Army, and was a practicing lawyer in Athens. Charles C. Thach was educated in the private academies of Athens, and graduated from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama (Auburn University), B.E., in 1877. He taught in Major O.J. Ferrell’s private academy at Hopkinsville, Kentucky in 1877. From 1881 to 1882 he served as professor of modern languages at Austin College, Texas. From 1885 to 1902 he served as professor of English at Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University), on the latter date being selected as President. In 1919 he became President Emeritus.

He was a member of the Alabama Educational Association, the Southern Education Association, the National Education Association, the American Economic Association, and he presented papers before each of these organizations. He was appointed to the Alabama History Commission in 1899 and the Alabama Text Book Commission in 1903. He also served as First Vice President of the National Association of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations. In 1904 he helped to organize the Alabama Library Association.

He married Ellen Stanford Smith, daughter of Dr. Otis David Smith and Antoinette (Howell) Smith on November 11, 1885. Their children were Elizabeth Lockhart, Otis David, Charles Coleman Jr., Richard Hartwell, and Harry Smith. Thach was a member of the Methodist Church and the Knights of Pythias. He died in 1921.