Swimming and Diving

NE10 Community Mourns the Passing of SCSU Swimming Head Coach Tim Quill

Quill Led Owls for 28 Seasons.

Letter from Terrance Jones, Director of Athletics and Recreation at Southern Connecticut State University: 

Dear Owls Family,

It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that I share the news of the sudden passing of Tim Quill, head coach of men's and women's swimming and diving. 

For 28 extraordinary years, Tim was far more than a coach at Southern Connecticut State University; he was the architect of one of the most successful coaching dynasties in the history of SCSU and the Northeast-10 (NE10) Conference. His loss leaves an unmeasurable void in the lives of our student-athletes, alumni, and the entire New Haven community. 

Tim established a standard of excellence that transcended the pool. His impact on our programs was truly historic. During his longtime extraordinary 28-year tenure leading the Owls' men's and women's swimming and diving programs, Quill established a standard of excellence that transcended the pool. 

Under his leadership, SCSU captured a combined 34 NE10 Conference Championships— 17 for the men and 17 for the women—alongside hundreds of individual titles. His peers recognized his impact by naming him the NE10 Coach of the Year a record 28 times. 

Beyond collegiate competition, Tim's influence shaped the sport across the region as the head coach of the SoNoCo Swim Club, where he guided athletes to the U.S. Olympic Trials and the Pan American Games. 

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. 

A 1989 graduate and four-time All-American at Alfred University, Tim remained a dedicated family man. He is survived by his wife, Brenda, and their children, Lilianna and Timothy V, both of whom currently attend Southern. 

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date. In the meantime, I ask that you keep Tim's family, our student-athletes, and his colleagues in your thoughts. 

We are heartbroken by Tim's passing, but profoundly grateful for the legacy he leaves behind. Tim will forever be part of the fabric of Southern.
 
With deepest sympathy,
 
Terrance Jones
Southern Connecticut State University
Director of Athletics and Recreation