Gene Sullivan (1931-2002)
Teams coached: Loyola Ramblers
Loyola (IL) record: 149-114 (.567)
Overall record: 149-114 (.567)
Career Accomplishments:
- NCAA National Championships: Â 0
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: Â 1Â (1985)
- NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen:Â 1Â (1985)
- NCAA Tournament Final Four:Â 0
- NIT Championships: Â 0
- NIT Appearances: Â 0
- MCC Regular Season Champion: Â 3Â (1983, 1985, 1987)
- MCC Tournament Champion: Â 1Â (1985)
Awards:
- MCC Coach of the Year:Â 2Â (1983, 1985)
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
- coming soon