SeattleU head coach Kelly Sullivan announces retirement...
In a statement released from the school Wednesday, Sullivan said, "It has been an incredible privilege to be the head men's and women's track and field and cross country coach at Seattle University for the past seven years,"
"This has been a rare opportunity to work with so many amazing student athletes, staff and administrators. However, it is time for me to personally take a step back to spend more time with my family and close friends.
"I want to thank Director of Athletics Shaney Fink for all the support she has given our programs and to me personally. I am also forever indebted to each and every one of the coaches who have helped lead our programs the past seven years. There is no way I could have done the job without them. I know the programs are in a great position heading into the last year as a member of the WAC and the amazing future they will all have going into the WCC. I feel incredibly blessed to have been a collegiate track and field and cross country coach for 44 years."
"Coach Kelly Sullivan has been a gift to Seattle University and the hundreds of student athletes he has coached during his career," Director of Athletics Shaney Fink said. "He has left an indelible mark on Redhawk Athletics and we are grateful for his many contributions."
While the SeattleU release touted the elevation in stature of the program, setting dozens of school records while earning 17 Western Athletic Conference medalist honors across multiple events, the school had never qualified individuals for the NCAA First Round (West Regionals) in outdoor track during his seven years at the helm, as opposed to two under the previous head coach, Trisha Steidl.
In fact, since SeattleU moved to NCAA Division I in 2012, the school has never qualified an athlete for the NCAA championships in cross country, indoor or outdoor track, the only school of the nine Division I and II schools in the state of Washington to do so.
The program had been handcuffed by a lack of suitable facilities, as, depending on the events, team members had to utilize the facilities of local high schools.
There was, and continues to be, the perception within the high school coaching community, that the program is run like a middle of the pack NCAA Division II program.
Seattle University will immediately launch a national search for a new head coach for the cross country and track and field programs.
NOTE: The sports information office of Seattle University contributed to this report.
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