Athletics
Southern New Hampshire University participates in NCAA Division II varsity athletics. The school is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Eastern College Athletic Conference, and the Northeast Ten Conference. The teams' nickname is "The Penmen", an homage to the university's history as an accounting school. The school's mascot is "Petey Penmen" .
In 1989, when it was known as New Hampshire College, the Penmen won its first and only NCAA Men's Soccer Championship, against UNC Greensboro. In 2002 the men's soccer team returned to the NCAA Division II championship game, but lost to Sonoma State. The men's soccer program in total has had 14 NCAA Division II tournament appearances since 1986.
Longtime men's basketball coach Stan Spirou (1985–present) is considered one of the most successful NCAA Division II basketball coaches, compiling a career winning percentage of .652 (522-279), 4 New England Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year awards (1993, 1994, 1995, 1999), and was named the National Coach of the Year in 1994 by Division II Bulletin. His teams have averaged 22 wins per season and also have 14 NCAA tournament appearances, 4 NCAA regional titles, and 6 NECC tournament championships.
SNHU is a recipient of the NCAA Foundation Academic Achievement Award, in recognition of high graduation rates among student athletes. SNHU took home the award for the highest graduation rate among all Division II schools. SNHU also earned the Northeast-10 Conference Academic Achievement Award following the 2001-02 school year.
NBA Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo coached the New Hampshire College men's basketball team during the 1975-1976 season, compiling a 14-13 record and winning the Mayflower Conference championship.
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