# Southern Connecticut Owls

The Southern Connecticut Owls (also Southern Connecticut State Owls, Southern Connecticut State College Owls, and SCSU Owls) are the athletic teams that represent Southern Connecticut State University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Owls' 17 athletic teams, seven for men and 10 for women, compete as members of either the Northeast-10 Conference or the Eastern College Athletic Conference. SCSU has been a member of the NE-10 since 2000.
There have been 10 NCAA National Championship Teams at Southern, as well as 75 NCAA Individual Champions in the sports of Track and Field, Swimming and Gymnastics.

## Sports sponsored

| Men's sports | Women's sports |
| Baseball | Basketball |
| Basketball | Cross country |
| Cross country | Field hockey |
| Football | Gymnastics |
| Soccer | Lacrosse |
| Swimming and diving | Soccer |
| Track & field$^†$ | Softball |
| | Swimming & diving |
| | Track & field$^†$ |
| | Volleyball |
| † – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor ||

### Soccer

SCSU's men's soccer team won titles in 1987, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1998, 1999. The six titles are the most for any Division II men's soccer team in the country. The program has appeared in 32 NCAA Division II Tournaments, 17 NCAA Final Four appearances, and has produced 52 All-Americans, 15 Senior Bowl Players, 4 National Player of the Year Award Winners, and 1 Golden Boot Award (Top Goalkeeper in any NCAA Division) winner.

### Basketball

On March 24, 2007, the women's basketball team won the NCAA Division II championships. In a 61–45 victory, SCSU beat the previously undefeated Florida Gulf Coast.

### Gymnastics

The street circle in front of the Moore Fieldhouse is named in honor of former Olympian Abie Grossfeld, former head gymnastics coach at the university.

### Swimming

The swimming and diving team scored their highest at the NCAA championship meet in March for the years 2007 and 2008.

### Football

Elm City rivalry
SCSU's football program has produced coaches and players who went on to the National Football League.

#### Alumni in the NFL

Active coaches
* Jeff Stoutland, linebackers coach (1984-1985), offensive coordinator (1988-1992)
* Tim Holt, tight ends coach & assistant offensive line coach (1995-1996), running backs coach (2005-2007)
* Jacques Cesaire, defensive line coach and former defensive lineman
Former coaches
* Kevin Gilbride, quarterback and tight end, head coach (1980-1984)
* Chris Palmer, quarterback (1969-1971)
* Nick Nicolau, running back (1957-1959), assistant coach (1960)
Former players
* Scott Mersereau, defensive tackle for the New York Jets (1987-1993)
* Joe Andruzzi, guard (1998-2006)

### Volleyball

SCSU's volleyball program had its most successful seasons in 2017–18 and in 2018–19. The Owls had their first National Tournament berth in 2017 with a record of 24–11. They ended their campaign in the second round of the National Tournament when they lost to New Haven. In 2018, the Owls won their first-ever NE-10 Conference Title against American International. The Owls then had their second berth into the National Tournament, bust lost in the first round.

## National championships

The Owls have won ten NCAA team national championships.

### Team

| Association | Division | Sport | Year | Opponent/Runner-up | Score |
| NCAA (10) | Division II (10) |
| NCAA (10) | Division II (10) | Women's Basketball (1) | 2007 | Florida Gulf Coast | 61–45 |
| NCAA (10) | Division II (10) | Men's Gymnastics (3) | 1973 | Cal State Northridge | 160.75–158.70 |
| NCAA (10) | Division II (10) | Men's Gymnastics (3) | 1975 | Illinois–Chicago | 411.65–398.80 |
| NCAA (10) | Division II (10) | Men's Gymnastics (3) | 1976 | Illinois–Chicago | 419.20–388.85 |
| NCAA (10) | Division II (10) | Men's Soccer (6) | 1987 | Cal State Northridge | 2–0 |
| NCAA (10) | Division II (10) | Men's Soccer (6) | 1990 | Seattle Pacific | 0–0 (4OT, PK) |
| NCAA (10) | Division II (10) | Men's Soccer (6) | 1992 | Tampa | 1–0 |
| NCAA (10) | Division II (10) | Men's Soccer (6) | 1995 | USC Spartanburg | 2–0 |
| NCAA (10) | Division II (10) | Men's Soccer (6) | 1998 | USC Spartanburg | 1–0 |
| NCAA (10) | Division II (10) | Men's Soccer (6) | 1999 | Fort Lewis | 2–1 (2OT) |