Bob Sullivan (American football coach)

Robert Sullivan (born c. 1937) is an American former college football coach. He was the head football coach for Carleton College from 1979 to 2000.

Bob Sullivan
Biographical details
Bornc. 1937 (age 86–87)
Alma materSaint John's University (1959)
Wisconsin State College–River Falls
Playing career
1955–1956Saint John's (MN)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1957Saint John's (MN) (assistant freshman)
1958Saint John's (MN) (freshman)
1959–1969Hill HS (MN)
1970–1978Cooper HS (MN)
1979–2000Carleton
2001–2018Northfield HS (MN) (volunteer)
Head coaching record
Overall101–114 (college)
Tournaments0–1 (NCAA D-III playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 MWC Blue Division (1979)
1 MIAC (1992)
Awards
MIAC (1992)
Carleton 'C' Club (2002)

Career

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Sullivan played college football for Saint John's for his freshman and sophomore year.[1]

As a junior at Saint John's in 1957, Sullivan was told by coach John Gagliardi that he would be better off as a coach rather than a player, so he helped coach the freshman football team.[1] As a senior in 1958, he was the head freshman coach.[1] In 1959, he began his high school coaching career as the head football coach for Hill High School.[2] He led the school to two state championships and were runner-ups four times. After eleven seasons, in 1970 he became the head football coach for Cooper High School.[2] He ended his tenure with Cooper winning twenty of his last 23 games. In 1979, he was hired as the head football coach for Carleton.[3][4][5][6] In 22 seasons as head coach he led the school to a 101–114 record. In 1979 he led the team to a Midwest Conference (MWC) Blue Division title.[7][8] In 1992, he had his best season as he finished the year going 9–2 and won the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) alongside a trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs.[2] He resigned following the 2000 season.[9][10] From 2001 to 2018 he served as a volunteer assistant coach under his son for Northfield High School.[11]

Honors

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In 2002, Sullivan was inducted into the Carleton 'C' Club.[12]

In 2022, Carleton's football field was renamed in Sullivan's honor to Bob Sullivan Field.[11][13][14]

Head coaching record

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College

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Carleton Knights (Midwest Conference) (1979–1981)
1979 Carleton 4–5 4–0 1st (Blue)
1980 Carleton 6–3 6–2 3rd
1981 Carleton 7–2 6–2 T–2nd
Carleton Knights (Midwest Conference / Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1982)
1982 Carleton 6–2 4–1 / 0–0 2nd (South) / N/A[n 1]
Carleton Knights (Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1983–2000)
1983 Carleton 2–8 1–8 10th
1984 Carleton 3–7 2–6 8th
1985 Carleton 5–5 4–5 T–5th
1986 Carleton 7–3 6–3 T–3rd
1987 Carleton 6–4 5–4 T–4th
1988 Carleton 7–3 6–3 4th
1989 Carleton 7–3 6–3 3rd
1990 Carleton 5–5 5–4 6th
1991 Carleton 5–5 3–5 T–7th
1992 Carleton 9–2 8–1 1st L NCAA Division III First Round
1993 Carleton 6–4 5–4 5th
1994 Carleton 3–7 3–6 8th
1995 Carleton 3–7 3–6 8th
1996 Carleton 5–5 4–5 T–5th
1997 Carleton 2–8 1–8 9th
1998 Carleton 2–8 1–8 T–9th
1999 Carleton 2–8 1–8 T–8th
2000 Carleton 1–9 1–8 9th
Carleton: 101–114 81–99
Total: 101–114
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Notes

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  1. ^ Ineligible for conference title

References

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  1. ^ a b c Reusse, Patrick (December 7, 2000). "Gagliardi is going strong at age of 74". Star Tribune. p. 53. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Bob Sullivan - Professor of Phys Ed, Athletics & Recreation, Emeritu". Carleton College. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  3. ^ "Jottings". Star Tribune. February 6, 1979. p. 22. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  4. ^ "Prep points". Star Tribune. April 10, 1979. p. 23. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  5. ^ "Carleton got coach it wanted in Sullivan". The Minneapolis Star. February 9, 1979. p. 29. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  6. ^ "College notes". Star Tribune. February 7, 1979. p. 28. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  7. ^ Paustian, John L. (November 9, 1979). "Vikings battle Carleton, seek first championship in 4 years". The Post-Crescent. p. 30. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  8. ^ Curtin, Irwin (November 11, 1979). "Lawrence rips Carleton 52-7". Star Tribune. p. 51. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  9. ^ "Carleton's Sullivan announces retirement". Star Tribune. November 1, 2000. p. 32. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  10. ^ "Carleton football coach calling it quits". The Austin Daily Herald. November 1, 2000. p. 6. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Carleton to name football field after longtime coach Bob Sullivan". Carleton College. October 14, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  12. ^ "2002 'C' Club Hall of Fame Inductees". Carleton Alumni Network. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  13. ^ "Carleton to name football field after former head coach Bob Sullivan". Carleton College. October 14, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  14. ^ Thompson, Pamela (October 17, 2022). "Legendary Carleton College coach honored with football field naming". Northfield News. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
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