Dan Sullivan was graduated from Suffield High School in 1953 where he earned 16 varsity letters and was president for all four years.

He did one year of prep school at Wilbraham Academy where he earned three varsity’ letters and was awarded the Sportsmanship Award.

In 1960 he was graduated from Springfield College with a BS degree.

While at Springfield, he was a member of the 1957 National Championship Soccer Team.

He was selected to the First Team All-New England and First Team All-American teams. He also was a member of the basketball and baseball teams.

He came to Windsor Locks High School in 1960 to start a soccer program. He also coached varsity basketball and baseball for the next 39 years.

His soccer teams won six State Championships:

1963

1964

 

1970

1971

1990

1994

Three times they were state runner-ups. His teams also won twelve league titles. His basketball teams won five league championships.

His 1966 baseball team won the State Championship along with several league and regional championships.

 

As a coach, his teams amassed a total of 1276 wins.

The success of his teams has won Dan numerous awards. His teams, along with the championships, were recognized for their sportsmanship, something in which ‘coach” took pride.

His personal awards include: Connecticut Soccer Coach of the Year in 1970; Nutmeg State Games “Living Legends Award” in 1991; Connecticut High School Coaches Hall of Fame, 1995; National High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 1996: Regional High School Soccer Coach of the Year in 1996; the Hugh Greer Distinguished Service Award in 1998, presented by the CCSOA and in that same year the George Ritchie Sportsmanship Award presented by the CSCA.He also received the Connecticut High School Coaches Award as the Outstanding Basketball Coach of the Year in 1998 and coached two times in the CHSCA All Star Festival.

 

In 2001 he was inducted into the National High School Coaches Hall of Fame.

In 2002 he entered the CT Soccer Hall of Fame as well as the Suffield High School Hall of Fame.

 

The soccer field at Windsor Locks High School was officially renamed in his honor at a ceremony in the fall of 2016.

Coach Sullivan is one of WLAHOF inductees who are also members of the Suffield Athletic Hall of Fame—Fran Aniello and Mary-Jane Hussey are the other two.

His career at Windsor Locks High School has earned him numerous awards. More importantly, many of the same people that mumbled under their breath at one of the practices or games when he might have come down a little hard on them, are the same people that are proud to consider him as their friend and thank him for the life lessons he taught them.

Coach Dan Sullivan passed away on December 4, 2018 at the age of 83.