Courtesy: Indiana State Athletics
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State head swimming and diving coach Josh Christensen announced the addition of Sean Sullivan to the Sycamore coaching staff on Monday afternoon.
Sullivan joins the Sycamores on August 1 as the Associate Head Coach and comes to Indiana State by way of Illinois State University where he served on the Redbirds coaching staff since 2021. Sullivan served as the sprint coach from 2021-2023, before taking on the role of interim head coach over the 2023-24 season.
“I’m very excited to have Sean joining our program,” Christensen said. “Being in the same conference for the last four years, it was easy to see the positive impact he had on the Illinois State program. He’s done an excellent job developing talent, especially in the sprint events, and gained invaluable experience this past year as an interim head coach. He was liked and respected by the student-athletes at Illinois State, as well as by other coaches within the Valley and around the country. We’re very fortunate to be adding a coach of this caliber to our program.”
Sullivan takes the place of departed assistant coach Chris Bals who left the program over the summer to pursue other professional opportunities outside the coaching field.
“I’d like to thank Josh for the opportunity to join the staff at Indiana State,” Sullivan said. “I’ve been able to see the team from up close, competing against them the last few years and it has been apparent that he and his staff have created an environment that fosters tremendous growth from student-athletes. I’m excited to be a part of that and help the team take the next step forward.”
Over the 2023-24 season at Illinois State, Sullivan oversaw all aspects of the program including writing and executing all in-water workouts and training plans for every swimmer. The work paid off as the Redbirds set four school records, including the Missouri Valley Conference record in the 400-yard Medley Relay. He also coached two athletes to NCAA B cuts marking the first time in program history that two athletes achieved the standard in the same season.
During his time as an assistant coach with the Redbirds, Sullivan was the primary coach for the 10-athlete sprint group that featured multiple elite athletes including 2023 MVC Swimmer of the Year Madyson Morse. Over the three seasons, he helped coach the team to 14 school records and the highest team conference finish since the 2014 season when Illinois State took home second place at the 2022 MVC Championships.
Sullivan gained national recognition at the 2023 World University Games after representing Team USA as an assistant coach selected by USC men’s and women’s associate head coach Peter Richardson and Fairfield Head Coach, Jacy Dyer. Sullivan was joined by Morse as the team earned seven medals overall at the games held in Chengdu, China. He was also named as assistant manager for USA Swimming’s 2022 National Diversity Select Camp and manager for the 2023 Central Zone Select Camp.
Prior to his time at Illinois State, Sullivan worked with the Glenbook Swim Club and Glenbrook Aquatics in Glenview, Ill. He was the lead assistant for the top senior group that included Olympic trail qualifiers, junior national qualifiers, high school, and club state champions, and Speedo sectional champions.
Sullivan received his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Occidental College in 2016 and was an all-conference swimmer and former school record holder for the Tigers.
What a fantastic hire! Sean is professional, intelligent, and dedicated to his swimmers. Congratulations!
Let’s go!!