Head Men's Rowing Coach Tom Sullivan Announces His Retirement

WORCESTER, Mass. – Tom Sullivan '70  has announced his retirement as the head men's rowing coach at the College of the Holy Cross. Sullivan has been an integral part of the Crusader rowing program for more than three decades, serving as the Crusaders' head coach for the last 33 years.

"The name of Tom Sullivan is synonymous with Holy Cross crew," said athletic director Richard M. Regan, Jr. "He has had a tremendous impact on the Holy Cross men's rowing program in his many years of service to the college. Not only was he an integral part of building the team's foundation, but in recent years he has brought the program to new levels of competition and success. We are confident that the program will continue to grow thanks to the traditions he worked to establish."

Under Sullivan's leadership, Holy Cross won the Patriot Challenge Regatta in six of the last eight years. The Crusaders have also participated in the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges Championship in each of the last four seasons, while receiving four consecutive invitations to the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship Regatta. In 2005, Sullivan's team had one of its most successful seasons, as the Crusaders were ranked 15th in the nation among Division I schools. Holy Cross also had an outstanding year in 2002, as the Crusaders won the men's team trophy and the varsity eight race at the New England Rowing Championship.

The 2002 New England Coach of the Year in men's rowing, Sullivan has also served as a guest speaker at the U.S. Rowing National Convention and at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, as well as being a member of the U.S. Rowing Grievance Committee. He was also the regatta director for the Eastern Sprints, a co-founder of the Avaya Collegiate Championship and an honorary steward of the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association. Sullivan was an Olympic torch bearer for the 2002 winter Olympics, in honor of his service to the sport of rowing.

Sullivan began his coaching career as the Crusaders' men's junior varsity coach in 1974, before assuming the head coaching duties in 1975. A 1970 graduate of Holy Cross, he was a four-year member of the rowing team during his time as a student, serving as co-captain during his senior year. Sullivan was inducted into the Holy Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1996.