SUNY Cortland Athletics

Tim Sullivan enjoyed more than 40 years as a highly successful teacher, administrator and coach at Montclair State University, and during that time was recognized for his extensive work supporting individuals with disabilities.

Sullivan graduated from Cortland in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health and earned a master’s degree from Ithaca College in 1967. A Brooklyn native and Saint Francis Prep alumnus, Sullivan transferred to Cortland from Arizona State University.

At Cortland, Sullivan played center, linebacker and tight end during two varsity football seasons in 1963 and 1964. He also was a lacrosse defenseman for two seasons and a heavyweight wrestler for one year. He served as a football and lacrosse co-captain in his senior year, and played in the 1964 Division All-Star Football Bowl Game. Off the field, he was the Delta Kappa Fraternity House Director in 1964.

In his senior year, Sullivan was part of a Red Dragon football squad that finished with an 8-1 record. The team’s only loss was a 7-0 setback at Montclair State in the season finale. Ironically, it would be at Montclair State that Sullivan enjoyed many of his life’s success stories.

Sullivan taught at Montclair from 1967 until his retirement in 2008. For 15 years, he served as the chair of the school’s Department of Health Professions, Physical Education, Recreation and Leisure Studies. He also was Montclair’s head wrestling coach from 1967-72, with a 43-27 overall record, and the men’s lacrosse head coach from 1984-87. In addition, he was a football assistant coach from 1967-73. He served as offensive line coach when Montclair won the 1970 Knute Rockne Bowl for the NCAA Division II “East” national title.

Sullivan directed the Special Olympics of New Jersey from 1974-76 and was inducted into the New Jersey Special Olympics Hall of Fame in 2008. He also directed Montclair State’s Special Needs Aquatic Program from 1975-2007 and the school’s Saturday Afternoon Special Activities Program, designed to meet the physical activity needs of children with developmental disabilities ages 6-18, from 1975-2004. Sullivan also represented the National Diffusion Network as a cadre team member of Project ACTIVE (All Children Totally Involved Via Equity) by offering workshops from Maine to Alaska from 1975-85.

In 1995, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs gave Sullivan its highest honor, the Evelyn Aronow Dolan Citizens Award for Advocacy and Promotion of Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities.

UPDATE: Tim passed away on September 28, 2019, at age 77.