Hall of Fame
A great friend of Coyote Athletics and CSUSB
Any list of Cal State San Bernardino alumni who have “made a difference” at this university in the years since they graduated will contain the name of Nick Coussoulis. And it will be very high on that list.
Nick has been a significant supporter of education at Cal State since he received his bachelor’s degree in geography in 1975 and presided over a highly-successful real estate development company responsible for many projects in the Southern California area.
In all, seven members of his family, including daughter, Angela, have received degrees or teaching credentials from the university over the years.
Partly because of that and because of his love for education and helping young people achieve their dreams, Nick and his family have given back to the university with their time, their talents and their treasure in so many ways.
Coyote Athletics would like to honor Nick for his generosity that has made it possible for the university to have one of the finest NCAA Division II arenas anywhere in the United States and one of the finest Health & Physical Education complexes of any CSU.
After first contributing money for scholarships for under-represented students, Nick also began contributing money for scholarships for student-athletes.
Then, in large part due to his lead gift, the modern arena that seats 4,100 for basketball and volleyball and 5,000 or more for graduations, concerts, sports camps and other activities including PE classes, was built and occupied in 1995. Nick’s only request was that it be named for his parents, James and Aerianthi Coussoulis.
Nick said at the arena’s dedication ceremony, “The greatest achievement a son can attain is to have the opportunity to publicly honor his mother and father.”
Since the arena opened, the women’s volleyball team has won six conference titles, three regional titles and advanced to the Final Four twice and finished as the runnerup in 2008. The men’s basketball team has won or shared eight conference titles, three region titles and advanced to the Final Four in 2007.
He has been a strong backer of the Dave Stockton Coyote Classic, a golf tournament that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for scholarships for student-athletes since 1996. He is a strong supporter of Partners in Education Night, in cooperation with Coyote Athletics and the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools.
Nick and his wife, Tina, have been true friends to Cal State San Bernardino. He has been a member of the university advisory board and a lifetime member of the Alumni Association. He has received the Arrowhead Distinguished Executive Award from the College of Business and Public Administration. In 2005, his family received the Legacy Award from the Alumni Association for sustained support of Cal State San Bernardino.
His activities in the civic life of the greater San Bernardino community are too numerous to mention.
The board of trustees of the university conferred on Nick the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters at the June 2009 commencement.
In recognition of those many accomplishments and extensive contributions to the university and the community, Coyote Athletics tonight welcomes Nick Coussoulis as a founding member of the newly-created Coyote Athletics Hall of Fame -- the Class of 2009.
