Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, competes in the Southland Conference. The Colonels have produced competitive basketball teams and represent the Cajun bayou region of southern Louisiana in Division I athletics.
The Colonels nickname was chosen in the school's ROTC-dominated early years, when colonel was the top ROTC rank, and the mascot Colonel Tillou is named for university namesake Francis T. Nicholls, a Confederate brigadier general and two-time Louisiana governor.
The 1998 Southland Conference Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance, a highlight for the Thibodaux-based program.
Nicholls State is located in the heart of Louisiana's bayou country, and the university's culinary program is one of the best in the South, reflecting the region's rich food culture.
The Nicholls Colonels compete in the Southland and hold an all-time record of 577–750 (.435 winning percentage) across 46 recorded seasons dating back to 1980-81.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 14-19 | 12-10 (Southland) | Tevon Saddler | |
| 2024-25 | 20-13 | 13-7 (Southland) | Tevon Saddler | |
| 2023-24 | 20-14 | 13-5 (Southland) | Tevon Saddler | |
| 2022-23 | 16-15 | 11-7 (Southland) | Austin Claunch | |
| 2021-22 | 21-12 | 11-3 (Southland) | Austin Claunch | |
| 2020-21 | 18-7 | 14-2 (Southland) | Austin Claunch | |
| 2019-20 | 21-10 | 15-5 (Southland) | Austin Claunch | |
| 2018-19 | 14-17 | 7-11 (Southland) | Austin Claunch | |
| 2017-18 | 21-11 | 15-3 (Southland) | Richie Riley | |
| 2016-17 | 14-17 | 7-11 (Southland) | Richie Riley | |
| 2015-16 | 11-23 | 6-12 (Southland) | J.P. Piper | |
| 2014-15 | 10-19 | 7-11 (Southland) | J.P. Piper | |
| 2013-14 | 14-15 | 10-8 (Southland) | J.P. Piper | |
| 2012-13 | 9-21 | 8-10 (Southland) | J.P. Piper | |
| 2011-12 | 10-20 | 6-10 (Southland) | J.P. Piper | |
| 2010-11 | 14-14 | 8-8 (Southland) | J.P. Piper | |
| 2009-10 | 11-19 | 7-9 (Southland) | J.P. Piper | |
| 2008-09 | 20-11 | 12-4 (Southland) | J.P. Piper | |
| 2007-08 | 10-21 | 5-11 (Southland) | J.P. Piper | |
| 2006-07 | 8-22 | 7-9 (Southland) | J.P. Piper | |
| 2005-06 | 9-18 | 5-11 (Southland) | J.P. Piper | |
| 2004-05 | 6-21 | 1-15 (Southland) | J.P. Piper | |
| 2003-04 | 6-21 | 1-15 (Southland) | Ricky Blanton | |
| 2002-03 | 3-25 | 1-19 (Southland) | Ricky Blanton | |
| 2001-02 | 2-25 | 1-19 (Southland) | Rickey Broussard | |
| 2000-01 | 14-14 | 12-8 (Southland) | Rickey Broussard | |
| 1999-00 | 11-17 | 8-10 (Southland) | Rickey Broussard | |
| 1998-99 | 14-15 | 12-6 (Southland) | Rickey Broussard | |
| 1997-98 | 19-10 | 15-1 (Southland) | Rickey Broussard | |
| 1996-97 | 10-16 | 7-9 (Southland) | Rickey Broussard | |
| 1995-96 | 5-21 | 5-13 (Southland) | Rickey Broussard | |
| 1994-95 | 24-6 | 17-1 (Southland) | Rickey Broussard | |
| 1993-94 | 19-9 | 12-6 (Southland) | Rickey Broussard | |
| 1992-93 | 14-12 | 11-7 (Southland) | Rickey Broussard | |
| 1991-92 | 15-13 | 12-6 (Southland) | Rickey Broussard | |
| 1990-91 | 3-25 | Ind | Rickey Broussard | |
| 1989-90 | 4-23 | Ind | Gordon Stauffer | |
| 1988-89 | 12-16 | Ind | Gordon Stauffer | |
| 1987-88 | 10-18 | Ind | Gordon Stauffer | |
| 1986-87 | 9-18 | 1-9 (GSC) | Gordon Stauffer | |
| 1985-86 | 8-16 | 2-8 (GSC) | Gordon Stauffer | |
| 1984-85 | 17-10 | 6-4 (GSC) | Gordon Stauffer | |
| 1983-84 | 19-7 | TAAC | Gordon Stauffer | |
| 1982-83 | 16-12 | TAAC | Gordon Stauffer | |
| 1981-82 | 6-20 | Ind | Gordon Stauffer | |
| 1980-81 | 6-22 | Ind | Jerry Sanders |
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| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|