Legendary SCSU Coach, Woodbridge Resident, Dies Suddenly; Mourned By Community

NEW HAVEN, CT — The Southern Connecticut State University community and beyond is mourning the sudden death of legendary swimming and diving coach Tim Quill.

SCSU Athletic Director Terrance Jones announced Quill’s death “with a heavy heart and profound sadness” in a message to the school community.

Quill, a Woodbridge resident, was currently the head coach of the SCSU men's and women's swimming and diving teams. Before arriving at SCSU nearly 30 years ago, Quill coached the Cheshire YMCA (1990-99) to a third-place finish at the YMCA National Championships.

“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,” Jones wrote in the message to the SCSU community. “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 Quill’s leadership, SCSU captured a combined 34 NE10 Conference Championships — 17 for the men and 17 for the women—alongside “hundreds of individual titles,” according to Jones.

“His peers recognized his impact by naming him the NE10 Coach of the Year a record 28 times,” Jones wrote. “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.”

Quill is survived by his wife, Brenda, and their twin children, Lilianna and Timothy V, who both attend Southern.

“We are heartbroken by Tim's passing, but profoundly grateful for the legacy he leaves behind,” Jones wrote. “Tim will forever be part of the fabric of Southern.”