Kennesaw State University Athletics

2005-06 - Atlantic Sun Era Begins!

As transitional NCAA members, KSU cannot participate in any NCAA post-season play (other than the fast-track sports) for four-years.  

The department moves from the Landrum Centre to the newly completed Convocation Center, which has athletic offices and seats 4,000 for basketball and volleyball.

Women’s golf and men’s and women’s indoor track are added as the school’s 12th, 13th and 14th sports. 

It is the first official year in the Atlantic Sun Conference, with all teams other than women’s golf eligible for League championships. 

Stan Sims’ women’s cross-country team wins the first DI title that KSU competes for, by annexing the Atlantic Sun Conference championship in Buies Creek, N.C., behind the performances of Patrina Hayes and Freshman-of-the-Year Erin Sutton.

Women’s soccer, which is ranked in the Top-10 of the South Region, has Katrina Hirsch and Jessica Marek named as A-Sun Defensive-Players-of-the-Year.

Men’s indoor track has six individual champions, while the women have two.

Men’s outdoor track has eight individual champions, while Patrina Hayes wins two and Shantela Davis one for the women.

2006-07 - Championship Owls

Volleyball becomes a varsity sport.

Women’s soccer (13-2-2) wins the Atlantic Sun Conference title as Laura Tucker (Player-of-the-Year) and Rebecca Hall (Defensive-Player-of-the-Year) are aided by Sara Clapham, who leads the nation in assists (0.9 APG).

Jerome McKinzie wins the indoor track high jump title.

Soibhan Wolcott (800m) for the women and Scott Burley (steeplechase) and Jerome McKinzie (high jump) for the men, win individual Conference outdoor track championships. 

Kerri McKee, the A-Sun Player-of-the-Year and Brittany Matthews (A-Sun Pitcher-of-the-year) lead softball (44-20) to the League pennant.

2007-08 - Owls Continue Soccer Success

Soccer (17-4) makes the school’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, losing 3-0 to Florida State in Tallahassee.  The team wins both the Atlantic Sun Conference regular season (10-1) and tournament titles.  Annie Phillips is named the A-Sun Player-of-the-Year, with Caitlin Dingle earning A-Sun Tourna-ment MVP honors.

Britteny Henderson is named women’s basketball Player-of-the-Year for the A-Sun Conference, with teammate Greteya Kelley as the loop’s Defensive Player-of-the-Year.

Joshua McNair (shot put), Gianni Catalano (800-me), Scott Burley (mile run) and Jerome McKinzie (high jump) lead the indoor track team to the league crown.    

2008-09 - Off to the Majors

The 2009 season was a memorable one for KSU freshman men's golfer Matt Nagy as he qualified and competed in the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black. 

It also was a big year for the Owls baseball program as Chad Jenkins and Kyle Heckathorn were selected among the Top 50 in the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft. KSU was the only program in the country to have two players drafted in the Top 50.

2009-10 - Championship Run Continues

Women’s soccer wins their third Atlantic Sun Conference championship in five years and then goes onto be ASUN Tournament champs, receiving the school’s second ever bid to an NCAA Tournament.  Bridget Gaughan is named the ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, with Staci Pugh earning the ASC Tournament MVP honor.

Stan Sims sees his men’s cross-country team become A-Sun titlists and his runners add significantly to ASC crowns for the men’s indoor and outdoor track teams.  High jumper Jerome McKinzie earns a spot in the NCAA outdoor track nationals.   

KSU wins the Atlantic Sun’s Sherman Day Trophy signifying the top women’s program in the League.

2010-11 - Owls Shine on the Green

Men’s cross-country repeats as Atlantic Sun Conference champions with men’s indoor outdoor track annexing the A-Sun title for the third time in four years. 

Cross-country recruit Mackenzie Howe leaves KSU with every ASUN distance race championship possible, which include five total titles in cross country and track.

The golf team, under the direction of coach Jay Moseley wins the school’s first ever Conference golf championship and earns a spot in the NCAA Southeast Region. Led by Jeff Karlsson, who led the nation in stroke average (71.3) and Matt Nagy, the team finishes third in the Region and moves onto the NCAA Nationals. Ben Greene wins golf’s NCAA Elite 88 Award for academic and athletic achievement as the Owls claim KSC’s best ever Division I showing, with a twenty-sixth place finish. 

2011-12 - Golf Teams Shine Again

The men claimed another NCAA regional appearance, while the KSU women won their first-ever ASUN Conference championship and made its initial NCAA regional showing in 2012.

2012-13 - Track Runs Past The ASUN

There were a number of notable accomplishments during the 2012-13 athletics season that was highlighted by Kennesaw State winning ASUN Conference titles in men's indoor track and field and men's outdoor track field championships.

The men's golf team advanced to the NCAA Regionals for a third straight year, sophomore Andre Dorsey advanced to the NCAA National Championships in both indoor and outdoor track and field, and the women's 4x100 relay team made the program's first-ever championship appearance. Jimmy Beck won GSGA Co-Men's Player of the Year honors and won the Georgia State Amateur Championship.

Seniors Ben Greene and Peder Lunde Hermansson became the first-ever KSU student-athletes to be named CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-Americans, earning second team recognition. Four Owl student-athletes were named ASUN Conference Player of the Year, while three were named Freshman of the Year and three were tabbed conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Ines Lescudier won ASUN Golfer of the Year, ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year and led secured the individual championship at the 2013 ASUN Championship, helping the Owls earn a second-place finish at the event.

A new era began for KSU volleyball with the announcement of Keith Schunzel as head coach on Jan. 28, 2013.

2013 also saw the beginning stages of the Kennesaw State football program with Brian Bohannon being announced as the first head coach on Mar. 14.

Head softball coach Scott Whitlock announced the end of his storied career at the helm in 2013 after a 1,149-315 all-time record with two national titles under his belt.

2013-14 - Super Owls

The 2014 campaign marked the first NCAA Regional appearance for KSU baseball and the team went even further, winning the regional and advancing to the NCAA Louisville Super Regional. Travis Bergen was named MVP of the NCAA Tallahassee Regional. Brennan Morgan earned ASUN Tournament MVP honors after leading the Owls to the conference championship.

Max Pentecost gave it his all on the diamond, winning ASUN Player of the Year honors and the Johnny Bench Award. He was named first team NCBWA and ABCA All-American.

Men's golf once again made the NCAA postseason, this time in the NCAA Auburn Regional where they finished second behind Alabama and advanced to the NCAA Championships. 

For the men's track squad, the team won the ASUN Indoor and Outdoor Championships. 

2015-16 - Football is Here!

Kennesaw State football began its inaugural season on Sept. 3 in a 56-16 rout of East Tennessee State. The Owls also won their first game inside Fifth Third Bank Stadium, securing a 58-7 win over Edward Waters. The Black and Gold went 5-1 at home in its first season, contributing to a 6-5 record.

2016 marked the second-straight season a KSU baseball player won a freshman all-American honor, this time being David Chabut. The team rallied a 17-4 conference record to win the ASUN regular season title.

After a 19-9 season on the court, volleyball coach Keith Schunzel was named ASUN Coach of the Year.

Women's golfer Clara Aveling won ASUN Golfer of the Year and led the field at the 2016 ASUN Conference Championship.

Bryant Odom was named head coach of KSU men's golf on Aug. 11, 2015 and immediately made an impact, winning ASUN Coach of the Year and leading KSU to its second ASUN Championship. The win earned the Owls a spot in the NCAA Franklin Regional.

2017-18 - First-ever Championship for Football

Kennesaw State football exemplified the Gold Standard in 2017, winning 12 games and its first Big South Conference Championship in year three of competition. Head coach Brian Bohannon won Big South and AFCA Region 2 Coach of the Year honors. The team went 7-0 inside Fifth Third Bank Stadium and picked up FCS Playoff victories over Samford and Jacksonville State in its first appearance in the tournament to reach the quarterfinal round.

Quarterback Chandler Burks led the way for the Owls, winning Big South Scholar-Athlete and Offensive Player of the Year selections.

Head volleyball coach Keith Schunzel won his second ASUN Coach of the Year award, leading the Owls to an ASUN Tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA Division I Volleyball tournament. Anaiah Boyer was named ASUN Tournament MVP while Kristi Piedimonte won ASUN Scholar of the Year.

KSU softball had a historic season in early 2018, winning its second ASUN regular season title and its first ASUN Tournament Championship, The Owls made the NCAA Tallahassee Regional behind stellar performances of Maddie Roth (Division I All-American third team and NFCA Division I All-South Region first team selection) and ASUN Pitcher of the Year Alley Cutting.

Siena Gore began her career with KSU lacrosse on a high note, winning 2018 ASUN Freshman of the Year.

2018 marked an historic season for women's golf, as the Owls won the ASUN Conference Championship for a third time and earned a spot in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional. 

Men's golf earned a spot in the NCAA Stockton Regional, marking the program's eighth consecutive appearance at an NCAA regional. Men's and women's cross country made the NCAA South Regionals.

The men's and women's track and field teams each earned both the ASUN Indoor and Outdoor Championships this season.

2018-19 - Owls Second Straight NCAA Quarterfinals!

KSU football continued to make history in 2018, playing in the first-ever football game at Truist Park (then SunTrust Park), defeating Jacksonville State 60-52 in the 'FCS Game of the Year.' The Owls won their second Big South Conference title and defeated Wofford to reach the FCS Quarterfinals for a second straight season.

Head coach Brian Bohannon won his second Big South and AFCA Region 2 Coach of the Year honors. Quarterback Chandler Burks had a career season, winning Big South Offensive Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards. He was also named to the Hero Sports FCS All-American first team. Anthony Gore earned Big South Defensive Player of the Year, giving KSU a sweep of conference superlative awards in 2018.

Amir Abdur-Rahim was named the head coach of Kennesaw State men's basketball on Apr. 18, 2019.

Siena Gore earned ASUN Lacrosse Player of the Year honors.

This season marked another National Championship for KSU Athletics in the form of a hammer throw title from track and field performer Daniel Haugh.

Success continued on the course for women's golf as the team won its second-straight ASUN Championship behind another stellar outing from Medy Thavong. Clara Aveling won her second ASUN Golfer of the Year award, leading KSU to the NCAA Auburn Regional.

2019-20 - Volleyball Claims 2nd NCAA Berth

KSU football earned its third consecutive FCS Playoff berth and defeated Wofford on the road in its first game. Linebacker Bryson Armstrong had an incredible performance on the defensive side of the ball and was named Big South Defensive Player of the Year. He was also named to the Hero Sports FCS All-American first team.

Volleyball had another spectacular season with Keith Schunzel at the helm, earning another berth in the NCAA Division I Volleyball tournament after winning the ASUN tournament. Dani Ballou was named MVP of the event.

2020-21 - Owls Shine on the Track

With the cancelation of the fall 2020 season, KSU football took the field for a shortened spring season in 2021. The Owls went 4-1 and Bryson Armstrong was named Big South Defensive Player of the Year for the second time.

Legendary KSU baseball head coach Mike Sansing retired in May of 2021 after 30 seasons at Kennesaw State with 1,158 total wins.

KSU softball earned its second NCAA regional appearance at the Tallahassee Regional. The program won its first ever Division I NCAA postseason game against the Auburn Tigers.

Octavia Blue was named women's basketball head coach on Apr. 29, 2021.

KSU lacrosse's Marissa Gore was named ASUN Defensive Player and Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

After COVID-19 cancelled the end of the 2019-2020 season, women's golf stormed back to win its third consecutive ASUN Championship led by ASUN Golfer of the Year Tai Anudit. The team earned a spot in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional but the event was canceled due to weather.

This season was a historic one for the women's track and field team. Cale McDaniel won ASUN Coach of the Year after leading the team to the ASUN Indoor Championship. Sarah Hendrick rose to stardom after setting an ASUN Indoor record in the 800m and securing a spot in the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Lindsay Billings won ASUN Indoor and Outdoor Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors and set an ASUN Indoor record in the 3000m. Jessica Watkins was named ASUN Outdoor Most Valuable Performer.

2021-22 - Football and Baseball Claim Titles

Football returned to Fifth Third Bank Stadium for the fall 2021 campaign. The Owls won their third Big South Conference title in their final season with the conference. Led by quarterback Xavier Shepherd, the Owls earned a fourth FCS Playoff berth and defeated Davidson in the first round.

Head coach Brian Bohannon won his third Big South Coach of the Year award. Shepherd won Big South Offensive Player of the Year and was named to the STATS FCS and Hero Sports FCS All-American first teams. Garland Benyard was named Big South Defensive Freshman of the Year.

Former Texas Rangers scout and KSU baseball alum Ryan Coe was named head coach of KSU baseball on July 9, 2021. In his first season, the Owls won a share of the ASUN East division title and the 2022 ASUN Tournament. They made the NCAA Hattiesburg Regional behind an historic season at the plate from Josh Hatcher.

Hatcher was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 10th round of the 2022 MLB Draft and was named a Collegiate Baseball All-American and to the ABCA/Rawlings Southeast All-Region team. Donovan Cash was named a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American.

For KSU lacrosse, Siena Gore led the squad and received numerous accolades, including: ASUN Player of the Year, ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year, CoSIDA Academic All-America first team, IWLCA All-South Region second team and Inside Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American while finishing among the top-five all-time goal scorers in NCAA history.

2022-23 - Historic Season on the Hardwood

After steady improvement over Abdur-Rahim's first three years as head coach of men's basketball, the Owls exploded in year four, crushing almost every single Division I school record including a 26-9 overall record and the Owls' first-ever trip to March Madness after sweeping the Atlantic Sun regular season and tournament championships thanks to a pair of thrilling victories over Liberty. Abdur-Rahim was named the Hugh Durham National Mid-Major Coach of the Year, while the Owls took third-seed Xavier to the final seconds before the Musketeers managed to rally for a victory.

On October 14, Kennesaw State again made history with its continued rise up in the NCAA as the Owls officially accepted an invitation from Conference USA to be their 10th member and to move up to the FBS level for football. The Owls will join CUSA in the summer of 2025.

Isaiah Rogers won the national championship in weight throw for the KSU indoor track and field team at the NCAA indoor championships, becoming the second-ever Owl to win a national title.

2023-24 - Track Reigns Supreme

It was a perfect sweep for the track teams, as the Owls claimed both the indoor and outdoor Atlantic Sun titles on the men's and women's sides.

Women's Golf meanwhile claimed another ASUN title in its last year in the conference, its sixth overall, as the Owls topped second-place Lipscomb by two strokes after trailing in both of the first two rounds. KSU earned its sixth appearance in the NCAA Regionals all-time as well, as they would play in the Auburn regional where the Owls finished in 11th place.

Baseball had a noteworthy season, with huge wins at Clemson and a 2-1 series win at Kentucky, both Top-25 squads, and reached the championship game of the Atlantic Sun Tournament undefeated in tournament play before falling to host Stetson in the finals.