The Nicholls Colonels are the 15 teams representing Nicholls State University, a university in Louisiana, in intercollegiate athletics. 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.
Nickname The Nicholls State University official team nickname is the "Colonels". The nickname was chosen because the university was once a ROTC dominated school and the highest rank in ROTC is a Colonel.
History
Conference affiliations 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
Sports sponsored Baseball Basketball Basketball Beach volleyball Cross country Cross country Football Soccer Golf Softball Tennis Tennis Track and field† Volleyball
Baseball
The 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. 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 Brent Haring.
Men's basketball
The 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. 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.
Women's basketball
The 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. 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 team represents Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, United States. 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. The team plays its home matches at the Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex and the team is coached by Jonea Rima.
Cross country
The 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. The teams host home meets at Nicholls Farm and are coached by Stefanie Slekis.
Football
The 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 Tommy Rybacki.
Men's golf The 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 their home tournaments at the LaTour Golf Club in Mathews, Louisiana and are currently led by head coach James Schilling.
Women's soccer
The women's 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. Nicholls' first soccer team was fielded in 1998. The team played its home games at the 1,000-seat Nicholls Soccer Complex through the 2021 season. The Colonels moved to the multi-purpose field at the Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex in 2022. The team is coached by Kristy Helmers.
Softball
The softball 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 Ron Frost.
Tennis Men's and Women's tennis currently competes in the Southland Conference, which is part of the NCAA Division I. Both men's and women's teams play their home matches at the Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex starting in 2022 after previously playing at the Colonel Tennis Complex since 2008. The teams are coached by Greg Harkins.
Women's track and field
The women's track and field 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. The teams use the multi-purpose field and track facility at the Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex and are coached by Stefanie Slekis.
Women's volleyball
The school's team currently competes in the Southland Conference, which is part of the NCAA Division I. 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 Men's track and field (indoor and outdoor) — Dropped in 2004 and replaced by men's tennis
Championships
Conference championships Sport Regular season titles Tournament titles Baseball 1974, 1976, 1985, 2023 1984, 1998, 2023, 2024 Men's basketball 1976, 1979, 1995, 1998, 2018, 2021 1995, 1998 Women's basketball – 2018 Football 1975, 1984, 2005, 2018, 2019, 2023 – Softball 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2018 1996, 1997
Notes
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.
Current venues Manning Field at John L. Guidry StadiumManning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium is a 10,500-seat multi-purpose stadium in Thibodaux, Louisiana. It is home to the Nicholls Colonels football team of the Southland Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The stadium is named in honor of former state representative John L. Guidry who was instrumental in the establishment of Francis T. Nicholls Junior College. The playing surface is named Manning Field after the Manning family (Peyton, Eli, Cooper and Archie) because the family holds the annual Manning Passing Academy football camp at the facility. In 2021, Nicholls State University opened the Boucvalt Family Athletic Complex located at the south end-zone of John L. Guidry Stadium featuring upgraded locker and training rooms, field-level coach offices, and a 110-seat meeting room. The current playing surface is GeoGreen Replicated Grass. The stadium was officially dedicated on September 16, 1972.
Boucvault Athletic ComplexThe Boucvault Athletic Complex is a 20,000-square-foot facility in the south end zone of Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium.
Gaubert Oil Practice Facility at Shaw Sports Turf/Manning FieldThe Gaubert Oil Practice Facility at Shaw Sports Turf/Manning Field is a covered turf 100-yard turf field and also includes office and storage space. It is located directly behind the Boucvault Athletic Complex and Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium.
Stopher GymnasiumStopher Gymnasium is a 3,800-seat multi-purpose arena in Thibodaux, Louisiana. It is home to the Nicholls Colonels men's and women's basketball teams and women's volleyball team. It opened in 1970.
Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier FieldBen Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field is a baseball venue in Thibodaux, Louisiana. It is home to the Nicholls Colonels baseball team of the NCAA Division I in the Southland Conference. The venue has a capacity of 2,100.
LaTour Golf ClubThe 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. It is an 18-hole, 7,170 yard, 72 par course and includes an on-site practice facility.
Nicholls FarmNicholls Farm is the home course for the Nicholls Colonels cross country teams in Thibodaux, Louisiana. It is a 277-acre farm located three miles south of Nicholls’ campus.
Nicholls Golf RangeThe Nicholls Golf Range is the driving range complex located on the campus of Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. It is a practice venue for the Nicholls Colonels men's golf team of the NCAA Division I in the Southland Conference.
Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces ParkSwanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park is a softball venue in Thibodaux, Louisiana. It is home to the Nicholls Colonels softball team of the NCAA Division I in the Southland Conference. The venue has a capacity of 500.
Thibodaux Regional Sports ComplexThe Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex is a 12-acre sports complex located between Nicholls State University and the Thibodaux Regional Wellness Center opening in 2022. The complex offers multiple sports facilities such as a beach volleyball courts, a multi-purpose field and track and tennis courts that meet NCAA national championship-level requirements and is home to Nicholls State University athletics sports teams.
Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex beach volleyball courts The beach volleyball courts offer twelve courts using Olympic-quality sand. It became home to the Nicholls Colonels women's beach volleyball team in March 2023.
Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex multi-purpose field and track The multi-purpose field and track offers facilities for track and field, soccer and football. The multi-purpose field is home to the Nicholls Colonels women's soccer team playing their first match at the facility in August 2022. The eight-lane track became home to the Nicholls Colonels women's track and field team in Spring 2023.
Thibodaux Regional Sports Complex tennis courts The tennis courts offer twelve courts with a viewing grandstand. It became home to the Nicholls Colonels men's and women's tennis teams in January 2023.
Frank L. Barker Athletic BuildingThe Frank L. Barker Athletic Building or Barker Hall is the athletic administration building for Nicholls State University athletics. It also formerly housed the Nicholls Colonels football operations center and baseball fieldhouse.
Leonard C. Chabert Strength and Conditioning FacilityThe Nicholls Colonels strength and conditioning facility is located inside the Leonard C. Chabert Strength and Conditioning Facility or Leonard C. Chabert Hall. It includes the weight room and nutrition center for Nicholls athletics.
Former venues Atchafalaya Golf Course at Idlewild — Men's golf (2015–2018) Colonel Tennis Complex — Men's and women's tennis (2008–2022) Nicholls Soccer Complex — Women's soccer (1998–2021) Nicholls State Colonels football practice fields — Football (1972–2023) Shaver Gymnasium — Men's basketball (1958–1969)
Gallery
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."
Nicholls Colonels Fight Song