Gene Sullivan

Gene Sullivan (1931-2002)

Teams coached: Loyola Ramblers
Loyola (IL) record: 149-114 (.567)
Overall record: 149-114 (.567)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  1  (1985)
  • NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen:  1  (1985)
  • NCAA Tournament Final Four:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  0
  • MCC Regular Season Champion:  3  (1983, 1985, 1987)
  • MCC Tournament Champion:  1  (1985)

Awards:

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1980-1989 Loyola (IL)
1967-1971 Notre Dame (asst)

Gene Sullivan Facts

  • Gene Sullivan
  • Born April 21, 1931
  • Died February 21, 2002
  • Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
  • Alma Mater: University of Notre Dame (BA, 1953)
  • Grew up on the Northwest Side of Chicago and attended Notre Dame, where he was a member of the Irish football team
    • After college, Sullivan joined the US Army and served during the Korean War
  • First coaching role was as head boys’ basketball coach at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois (1957-67)
    • Won three Chicago Catholic League titles during his tenure there
  • Returned to his alma mater in 1967, spending the next four seasons as an assistant under head basketball coach Johnny Dee
  • Sullivan was passed over for the head coaching job at UND in 1971 and spent the next few years working in the private sector
  • Hired in 1975 to be the athletic director at DePaul in his hometown of Chicago
  • After three years in that role, he took the same job across town at Loyola University (IL)
  • Became the head men’s basketball coach in 1980, leading the Ramblers for nine seasons
    • Went 149-114 overall, winning three MCC (now Horizon League) titles and going to the Sweet Sixteen in 1985
    • Resigned from his role in 1989 following back-to-back losing seasons
  • Throughout the rest of his career, worked for the Chicago Park District (as head of recreational programs) and with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office (running an anti-gang youth program)
  • Passed away in 2002 at the age of 70; survived by his wife, Elaine, and two daughters, Tracy and Terri

Gene Sullivan Coaching Tree

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