Nicholls Colonels

The Nicholls Colonels are the 15 teams representing Nicholls State University, a university in Louisiana, in intercollegiate athletics.[2] The Colonels compete in the NCAA Division I and the Colonels football team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The Colonels sports teams are members of the Southland Conference.[2]

Nicholls Colonels
Logo
UniversityNicholls State University
ConferenceSouthland Conference
NCAADivision I (FCS)
Athletic directorJonathan Terrell
LocationThibodaux, Louisiana
Varsity teams15
Football stadiumManning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium
Basketball arenaStopher Gymnasium
Baseball stadiumBen Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field
Softball stadiumSwanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park
Soccer stadiumThibodaux Regional Sports Complex
Other venuesColonel Tennis Complex
LaTour Golf Club
Nicholls Farm
MascotColonel Tillou
NicknameColonels
Fight songNicholls State Colonels Fight Song
ColorsRed and gray[1]
   
Websitewww.geauxcolonels.com

Nickname

The Nicholls State University official team nickname is the "Colonels".[3] The nickname was chosen because the university was once a ROTC dominated school and the highest rank in ROTC is a Colonel.[3]

History

Conference affiliations
Years Conference Classification
1958–1965 Independent NCAA College Division
1965–1971 Gulf States Conference NCAA College Division
1971–1973 Gulf South Conference NCAA College Division
1973–1979 Gulf South Conference NCAA Division II
1979–1980 Independent NCAA Division II
1980–1984
*(1982–1984)		 Independent
(Trans America Athletic Conference)		 NCAA Division I
1984–1987 Gulf Star Conference NCAA Division I
1987–1991 Independent NCAA Division I
1991–present Southland Conference NCAA Division I

* From 1982–84, Nicholls (then athletically branded as "Nicholls State") was a provisional member of the Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC).

  • Men's sports – Only baseball played TAAC conference games[4][5][6]

Sports sponsored
Men's sports Women's sports
BaseballBasketball
BasketballBeach volleyball
Cross countryCross country
FootballSoccer
GolfSoftball
TennisTennis
Track and field†
Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor.

Baseball
Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field
Main article: Nicholls Colonels baseball

The Nicholls Colonels baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate baseball team of Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States. The team is a member of the Southland Conference, which is part of the NCAA Division I.[7][8] Nicholls' first baseball team was fielded in 1960. The team plays its home games at 2,100-seat Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field and are coached by Mike Silva.

Men's basketball
Main article: Nicholls Colonels men's basketball

The Nicholls Colonels men's basketball team represents Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Southland Conference, which is part of the NCAA Division I.[9] Nicholls' first men's basketball team was fielded during the 1958–59 season. The team plays its home games at 3,800-seat Stopher Gymnasium and are coached by Austin Claunch.

Stopher Gymnasium

Women's basketball
Main article: Nicholls Colonels women's basketball

The Nicholls Colonels women's basketball team represents Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Southland Conference, which is part of the NCAA Division I.[10] Nicholls' first women's basketball team was fielded during the 1974–75 season. The team plays its home games at 3,800-seat Stopher Gymnasium and are coached by DoBee Plaisance.

Women's beach volleyball

The Nicholls Colonels women's beach volleyball team represents Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States.[11] Nicholls launched its beach volleyball program in the 2019 season (2018–19 school year), and played its first season as an independent. The Colonels now compete in the Southland Conference, which added beach volleyball as an official conference sport for the 2020 season.[12] The team is coached by Kallie Noble.[13]

Cross country
Main article: Nicholls Colonels cross country

The Nicholls Colonels cross country program represents Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States. The program includes separate men's and women's cross country teams, both of which compete in the Southland Conference, which is part of the NCAA Division I.[14] The teams are coached by Stefanie Slekis.[15]

Football
Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium
Main article: Nicholls Colonels football

The Nicholls Colonels football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Nicholls State University located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Southland Conference. Nicholls' first football team was fielded in 1972. The team plays its home games at the 10,500 seat Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium in Thibodaux, Louisiana. The Colonels are coached by Tim Rebowe.[16]

Men's golf

The Nicholls Colonels men's golf team represents Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Southland Conference, which is part of the NCAA Division I.[17] The team plays their home tournaments at the LaTour Golf Club in Mathews, Louisiana[18] and are currently led by head coach James Schilling.[19]

Women's soccer
Nicholls Soccer Complex
Main article: Nicholls Colonels women's soccer

The Nicholls Colonels women's soccer team represents Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Southland Conference, which is part of the NCAA Division I.[20] Nicholls' first soccer team was fielded in 1998. The team plays its home games at the 1,000-seat Nicholls Soccer Complex through the 2021 season. The Colonels moved to the newly constructed multi-purpose field at the Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex in 2022.[21] The team is coached by Robert Podeyn.

Softball
Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park
Main article: Nicholls Colonels softball

The Nicholls Colonels softball team represents Nicholls State University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Southland Conference. Nicholls first softball team was fielded in 1981. The team plays its home games at 500-seat Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park and are coached by Angel Santiago.[22]

Men's tennis

The Nicholls Colonels men's tennis team represents Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Southland Conference, which is part of the NCAA Division I. The team plays its home matches at the Colonel Tennis Complex and are coached by Greg Harkins.

Colonel Tennis Complex

Women's tennis

The Nicholls Colonels women's tennis team represents Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Southland Conference, which is part of the NCAA Division I. The team plays its home matches at the Colonel Tennis Complex and are coached by Greg Harkins.

Women's track and field
Main article: Nicholls Colonels women's track and field

The Nicholls Colonels women's track and field program represents Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States. The program includes women's indoor and outdoor track and field teams, both of which compete in the Southland Conference, which is part of the NCAA Division I.[23] The teams are coached by Stefanie Slekis.[15]

Women's volleyball
Stopher Gymnasium
Main article: Nicholls Colonels women's volleyball

The Nicholls Colonels women's volleyball team represents Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Southland Conference, which is part of the NCAA Division I.[24] Nicholls' first volleyball team was fielded in 1975. The team plays its home games at 3,800-seat Stopher Gymnasium and are coached by Kallie Noble.[13]

Former varsity sports
  • Women's golf — Dropped in 2009 due to budget constraints[25][26]
  • Men's track and field (indoor and outdoor) — Dropped in 2004 and replaced by men's tennis[25]

Championships

Conference championships

  • Baseball
    Regular Season: 1974, '76, '85, 2023
    Tournament: 1984, ‘98, 2023
  • Men's Basketball
    Regular Season: 1976, '79, '95, '98, 2018, '21
    Tournament: 1995, '98
  • Women's Basketball
    Tournament: 2018
  • Football
    1975, '84, 2005, '18, '19
    Playoff appearances: 1986, '96, 2005, '17, '18, '19
  • Softball
    Regular Season: 1992, '94–'96, 2018
    Tournament: 1996, '97

Athletic facilities

The following is a list of the athletic facilities for the Nicholls Colonels. It includes Nicholls' outdoor stadiums, indoor arenas, golf courses, running courses, and training and practice facilities.

Former athletic facilities

Nicholls Colonels traditions

Nicholls State University Alma Mater

The name of the "official" Alma Mater for Nicholls State University is "Nicholls State University Alma Mater."[43]

Nicholls Colonels Fight Song

The name of the "official" fight song for Nicholls State University is "Nicholls Colonels Fight Song."[44]

Pride of Nicholls Marching Band
Main article: Pride of Nicholls

The "Pride of Nicholls" Marching Band is the marching band which represents Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana.[45]

Colonel Tillou
Main article: Colonel Tillou

"Colonel Tillou" is the official athletics mascot for Nicholls State University.[46] The modern version of Col. Tillou wears a bright red uniform topped off with a contemporary-style military officer's cap.

Nicholls School Colors

The "official" school colors for Nicholls are red and gray.[47]

Nicholls Colonelettes and Colorguard

The Nicholls Colonelettes are the Nicholls dance team. This group performs at all home football games, one away football game, and all home basketball games. They participate in all pep rallies.[48]

The Nicholls Colorguard performs at all home football games.

Nicholls Cheerleaders

The Nicholls Cheerleaders are the co-ed cheerleading squad for the Nicholls Colonels. The cheerleaders perform at football games, basketball games and pep rallies in addition to a number of public relations and charitable events each year.[49]

Rivalries

The Nicholls sports teams maintain a conference rivalry with the Southeastern Louisiana sports teams, but the main rivalry is in football where the teams compete in the annual River Bell Classic.[50] The Nicholls sports teams also compete against conference rival Northwestern State and in football the teams play in the annual NSU Challenge.[51]

Nicholls State University Athletics Hall of Fame
Frank L. Barker Athletic Building

The purpose of the Nicholls State University Athletics Hall of Fame is to strengthen and perpetuate athletic tradition at the university.[52] Members in the Athletics Hall of Fame shall consist only of those outstanding persons whose dedication and performance merit the great honors that the University can bestow.[52]

The Hall of Fame is located on the campus of Nicholls State University in the Frank L. Barker Athletic Building.

Colonel Athletic Association

The Colonel Athletic Association is the fundraising organization for the Nicholls State University athletics department.[53] The athletic association helps to provide support to Nicholls' student-athletes and also focuses on fundraising activities for facility enhancements and operating expenses.[53]

Athletic directors
Name Years Served
Morris Osburn 1958–1960
James Hall 1960–1963
Raymond Didier 1963–1978
Don Landry 1978–1987
Phil Greco 1987–1993
Mike Knight 1993–1998
Stan Williamson 1998–2000
Rob Bernardi 2000–2016
Matt Roan 2016–2020
Jonathan Terrell 2020–present

# denotes interim athletic director

Broadcast information

Nicholls Colonels Radio Network

The Nicholls Colonels Radio Network is the radio network of the Nicholls Colonels men's and women's sports teams.[54] It consists of several radio stations throughout the state of Louisiana.

The list of participating stations are:[54]

  • KLRZ 100.3 FM in Larose, Louisiana (flagship)
  • KLEB 1600 AM in Golden Meadow, Louisiana
  • KNSU 91.5 FM in Thibodaux, Louisiana

Streaming services

Nicholls Colonels games can be streamed online for free at Colonels All-Access. It is a video subscription service available through the Nicholls athletics department where viewers can watch a live stream of all non-televised home football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and volleyball events.[54]

See also

References
  1. "Nicholls Colors – Nicholls Branding Guide". Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  2. "Nicholls Colonels: Nicholls State University Athletics". geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  3. "About Nicholls: Fast Facts". nicholls.edu. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  4. "2008–09 Nicholls State men's basketball media guide" (PDF). nicholls.sidearmsports.com. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  5. "Nicholls State Colonels Men's Basketball School History". sports-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  6. "2013 Nicholls State baseball media guide" (PDF). geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  7. "Table of Contents ? Quick Facts : 2013 Schedule" (PDF). Geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  8. "Didier shaped Nicholls athletics, many lives". Webcitations.org. Archived from the original on January 13, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. "2012-2013 Nicholls Colonels Media Guide" (PDF). Geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  10. "The Official Site of Nicholls State University Athletics". geauxcolonels.com.
  11. "Colonel Beach Volleyball makes program debut this weekend". geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  12. "Southland Conference Adds Beach Volleyball to Championship Sports Offerings" (Press release). Southland Conference. August 14, 2019. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  13. "Head Volleyball and Beach Volleyball Coach". Geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  14. "The Official Site of Nicholls State University Athletics". geauxcolonels.com.
  15. "Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach". Geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  16. "Tim Rebowe named Colonels coach". espn.com. November 21, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  17. "Nicholls State University Athletics - Story Archives". Geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  18. "LaTour Golf Club". geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  19. "Nicholls State University Athletics - 2013-14 Men's Golf Coaching Staff". Geauxcolonels.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  20. "2013 Nicholls Women's Soccer Quick Facts" (PDF). Geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  21. "Thibodaux Regional Health System and Nicholls State University Expand Partnership to Provide Student-Athletes with State-of-the-Art Sports Facilities". Nicholls State University. September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  22. "Colonel Softball Earns Split with SFA". GeauxColonels.com. March 23, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  23. "The Official Site of Nicholls State University Athletics". geauxcolonels.com.
  24. "2012 Nicholls Volleyball Quick Facts" (PDF). Geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  25. "Nicholls State dropping women's golf". houmatoday.com. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  26. "Nicholls hosting men's golf tournament at The Atchafalaya at Idlewild". dailycomet.com. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  27. "Nicholls State Colonels football media guide" (PDF). Nicholls State University Athletics. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  28. "Football field's namesake brings academy to campus". The Nicholls Worth. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  29. "'This is the new home of Colonels football': Nicholls opens new athletic complex". Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  30. "Guidry Stadium field turf installation underway". geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  31. "Nicholls Map". Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  32. "2012-13 Nicholls Colonels Media Guide" (PDF). Geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  33. "Nicholls Baseball Quick Facts" (PDF). Nicholls State Office of Media Relations for Athletics. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  34. "Nicholls Athletics Facilities Photo Gallery". Geaux Colonels. Nicholls State University Athletic Department. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
  35. "Lamar vs Nicholls (4/13/2013)". geauxcolonels.com.
  36. "Sam Houston State vs Nicholls (3/29/2013)". geauxcolonels.com.
  37. "Colonels set to host Nicholls XC Invitational". geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  38. "Growing the Future: Port of South Louisiana Partners with Nicholls". nicholls.edu. September 11, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  39. "Map of Nichols State University Campus" (PDF). Nicholls.edu. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  40. "Nicholls Soccer Quick Facts" (PDF). geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  41. "2013 Nicholls Softball Media Guide" (PDF). Geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  42. "Nicholls receives gift for Barker Hall Expansion, Football Operations Center". crescentcitysports.com. June 12, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  43. "History and Traditions". nicholls.edu. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  44. "Nicholls State Colonels School Songs Lyrics". fightmusic.com. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  45. "The Pride of Nicholls Marching Band". nicholls.edu. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  46. "Colonel Tillou". Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  47. "Nicholls Colors". nicholls.edu. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  48. achamberlain. "Nicholls Colonelettes and Colorguard". nicholls.edu.
  49. mmcelroy. "Nicholls State University Cheerleading". nicholls.edu.
  50. Beck, Stan; Wilkinson, Jack (September 19, 2013). College Sports Traditions [Picking Up Butch, Silent Night, and Hundreds of Others]. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 315. ISBN 978-0810891210. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  51. "Rivalry trophy on the line in road test at Northwestern State". geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  52. "Nicholls State University Athletics Hall of Fame". geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  53. "Colonel Athletic Association". geauxcolonels.com. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  54. "How to Listen to Nicholls Colonels Radio Network Streaming Live Online". gotknowhow.com. August 28, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
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