Coaches Corner/Mascot's Musts
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Cougars
Women's Soccer
Favorite Place/Spot on Campus: SIUE Gardens
Pregame Ritual: Eating the same pregame meal for all home games.
Favorite Motivational Quote: Let's have fun. And what's more fun than competing with your best friends?
Fun Facts: We've had 9 sets of sisters including 2 sets of twins in the program since 2013.
Team Traditions (that aren't secret): Post goal song and team saying "COOOOUGS" at the end of the national anthem.
Favorite Place to spend free time off campus: Madison County bike trails are amazing and expansive! You can go anywhere among the neighboring towns in Madison County and never share a road with cars.
Hidden Gem and Favorite Restaurant: Stagger Inn Again (cheeseburger with provolone, bacon, tomato, onion)
Favorite Local Donut/Coffee/Ice Cream place: Sacred Grounds and Annie's Frozen Custard
Women's Basketball
Favorite Place/Spot on Campus: Cougar Lake and the trails near SIUE Gardens
Pregame Ritual: Mindful visualization and scouting report review. Prefer watching warmups of both teams before every game.
Favorite Pregame Song: Eminem - Lose Yourself
Fun Facts: A couple of staff members who have played professional ball - including one who played in the WNBA!
Favorite Places to spend time off/on campus: SIUE Gardens, Cougar Lake to fish with the kids as well as the dog park and the great hometown restaurants Edwardsville has to offer (Peel, Foundry, La Casa, Kyoto)
Hidden Gem and Favorite Restaurant: PEEL!
Favorite Local Donut/Coffee/Ice Cream place: Artisan, Sacred Grounds, and Bobby's Frozen Custard
Baseball
Favorite Place/Spot on Campus: SIUE Gardens is a beautiful place to relax and/or take a walk.
Pregame Ritual: Code Red Mountain Dew
Favorite Pregame Song: Travis Tritt - It's a Great Day to be Alive
Favorite Place to spend time off campus: Edison's - games/food/drinks
Hidden Gem and Favorite Restaurant: North Main Diner (French Toast special)
Favorite Local Donut/Coffee/Ice Cream place: Northside Dairy Haven
Track & Field
Favorite Place/Spot on Campus: SIUE Gardens are relaxing and get you away from the everyday grind.
Pregame Ritual: Each athlete is different so there are too many to name - but most will visualize the race/event during warmups.
Favorite Motivational Quote: If you think you are beaten you are. If you think you dare not you don't. If you'd like to win but think you can't, it's almost a cinch that you won't.
Fun Facts: All three coaches are ordained and have officiated weddings.
Team Traditions: Beating the drum at soccer games.
Favorite Places to spend time off campus: Goshen Coffee or on the greenways
Hidden Gem and Favorite Restaurants: Chappy's, Wang Gang, Bann Thai (Pla Sam Ros)
Favorite Local Coffee/Donut/Ice Cream place: Yummy Donut Palace
Softball
Favorite Place/Spot on Campus: Cougar Lake
Pregame Ritual: We do group visualization before each competition.
Favorite Motivational Quote: Leave it better than you found it.
Fun Facts: We have 11 different majors represented on the team.
Team Traditions: We have a lip synch challenge to kick off practice.
Hidden Gem: There are over 135 miles of bike and walking trails in Madison County.
Favorite Restaurant: Doc's Smokehouse
Favorite Local Coffee/Donut/Ice Cream place: Teaspoons Cafe