On Wednesday, Southern Connecticut State University announced the sudden passing of their head coach Tim Quill, just one day before the Owls are set to compete in their conference championships.
Quill had been the head coach at SCSU for 28 years, and under his direction, the Owls have won 34 Conference Championships — 17 men and 17 womens. The women have won five straight meets from 2020-2025 (there were no 2021 championships), and the men have won four straight from 2022-2025.
During his time at the helm of the program, he coached 121 All-Americans, and 19 individual NCAA Champions, including Ben Michaelson, who won NCAA DII Swimmer of the Year three times. He also earned Conference Coach of the Year honors 24-times since the creation of the conference — 12 titles for each program, and he earned six Metropolitan Conference Coach of the Year awards before SCSU moved into the NE10.
The NE10 Championships start tomorrow in Worcester, Massachusetts. In the pre-championship poll released by the NE10 yesterday, the women were picked as the #1 team and the men were picked 3rd behind Bridgeport and Adelphi and tied with Bentley.
Quill graduated in 1989 as a four-time All-American at Alfred University, and he is survived by his wife Brenda and their two children, Lilianna and Timothy V.
Terrance Jones, the SCSU Athletic Director said, “Tim embodied everything we strive for at Southern Connecticut State University. For nearly three decades, he poured his heart into our swim and diving program, shaping not only champions in the pool but remarkable young people beyond it. His commitment, his steadiness, and his genuine care for our student athletes made him a pillar of this community. Tim’s legacy is one of service, mentorship, and heart. We honor his life, his work, and the profound mark he left on every student he coached.”
Father of a Southern swimmer – Tim looked after my daughter and was always there to give her encouraging words to help her get through and motivate her to be the best swimmer she could be. That’s the kind of man Tim was, he truly believed in every athlete he had and pushed them to their potential. My wife and I will always have a special place in our hearts for Tim. May he rest in peace and God bless his family.
I was a hardly-above-average swimmer in Connecticut growing up who had some of my best meets at SCSU. Tim was always on deck for any event at his pool, and he was kind and thoughtful enough to acknowledge my performances, going above and beyond to know when I had a big PB despite having no direct connection to me. A true patron of the sport, it’s no wonder his teams had such resounding success. If everybody could be as passionate about their craft as Tim, the world would be a better place.
Came through the NE10 as a college swimmer. Always had so much respect for how he made all of his swimmers better and faster… we knew to never underestimate any member of an SCSU squad. He was passionate and caring and it showed on deck. Really nice guy when I got to talk to him and his staff too. Sending my condolences to the SCSU community and also to his family for such a tragic loss.
Was a CT swimmer growing up, ended up as a college coach out of state. I like many others had a number of interactions with Tim over the years both as an athlete, and young coach. His intensity, energy, and humor was undeniable. Shocked by this news. Thoughts to his family, and the SCSU community, he will be missed.
To the team you have a lot of people rooting for you this week. We all know how Tim would want you to handle business. Go out there and do your thing. Good Luck Owls
My deepest condolences to Tim’s Family. Tim was a class act. His legacy goes far beyond the swimming pool. He will be missed by so many in the CT & NE swim community. He impacted so many swimmers, swim parents and coaches. RIP my friend RIP.
Thank you we are all in shock over this he was 58 he collapse outside the hospital we think a heart attack
Rest in Peace
RIP Tim. He was an intense coach who had high expectations of his swimmers. So grateful for the positive impact he had on our swimmer. Condolences to his family.
Genuinely one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. Supported me in and out of the pool
So sorry for your loss. Tough to lose those kind of people for your life. The silver lining is that coaches like him had the opportunity to touch so many lives and lives on through the way they pay it forward.
He definitely impacted so many lives
I know my brother went out of his way to impact all of his athletes he will be missed