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]
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.
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
Tevon Saddler.
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 Justin Payne.
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 Jonea Rima.[13]
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]
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]
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 currently looking for a new coach. [22]
The Nicholls Colonels softball team represents Nicholls State University in
NCAADivision Icollege 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 Justin Lewis.
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.
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.
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]
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 Jonea Rima.
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]
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.
Colonel Tennis Complex The Colonel Tennis Complex is a
tennis venue in Thibodaux, Louisiana.[35][36] It is home to the Nicholls Colonels
men's and
women's tennis teams of the NCAA Division I in the Southland Conference.
LaTour Golf Club The LaTour Golf Club located in
Mathews, Louisiana, is the home golf course of the
Nicholls Colonels men's golf team of the NCAA Division I in the Southland Conference.[18] It is an 18-hole, 7,170 yard, 72 par course and includes an on-site practice facility.
Nicholls Farm Nicholls Farm is the home course for the Nicholls Colonels cross country teams in Thibodaux, Louisiana.[37] It is a 277-acre farm located three miles south of Nicholls’ campus.[38]
Nicholls Golf Complex The Nicholls Golf Complex is the
driving range complex located on the campus of Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana.[39] It is a practice venue for the
Nicholls Colonels men's golf team of the NCAA Division I in the Southland Conference.
"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
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 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]
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.
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]
^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.
ISBN978-0810891210. Retrieved May 28, 2019.