Stonehill's Paula Sullivan Leaves Indelible Mark on NE10 as Coach and Administrator - Northeast 10 Athletics

Posted: Nov 20, 2020

Through over four decades of outstanding service to Stonehill College, to go with a stint as interim Commissioner of the Northeast-10 Conference in 2007-08, Paula Sullivan brought excellence in all capacities she handled. As one of the winningest basketball coaches all-time, she turned a fledgling program into a national power, then as the College's Director of Athletics, Sullivan put her stamp on the overall excellence that Stonehill still enjoys at a national level, capturing the College's first NE10 Presidents' Cup for overall athletic excellence in the Conference. Sullivan then led the department as Assistant Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports from 2008 until her retirement in 2014.

Sullivan first served as the head women's basketball coach at Stonehill for 25 years from 1971 through 1996. Over that time span, the Stonehill posted an overall record of 479-159 (.751) and captured six NE10 championships. Sullivan's squads recorded winning seasons during all of her campaigns at The Hill, and ten of those teams earned berths in the NCAA Division II Tournament, culminating with back to back regional championships and trips to the Elite Eight in 1994 and 1995, reaching the national semifinals in 1995.

A five-time selection as NE10 Coach of the Year, Sullivan was honored in 1994 as the Converse/Women's Basketball Coaches Association Division II National Coach of the Year. During her career, she coached a pair of 2,000 point scorers as well as 14 1,000 point scorers, and two of her student-athletes earned Division II All-America accolades. She retired from coaching in March 1996 as the winningest Division II women's basketball coach in New England at the time and still ranks 15^th in NCAA Division II history for winning percentage and 38^th in wins. The 2006 inductee to the NE10 Hall of Fame has also seen four of her former student-athletes also receive the recognition from the Conference.

Sullivan was appointed as Stonehill's Director of Athletics in April 1996, taking over the duties full-time after serving as Interim Athletics Director for six months. She oversaw an expansion to 20 varsity sport offerings, as well as some of the top athletic facilities in the Northeast, including W.B. Mason Stadium, for which she was an instrumental piece in the construction. During her tenure as Athletics Director, Stonehill captured NE10 Conference titles in eight sports to go with a pair of NCAA Division II national championships in women's lacrosse as well as the 2003 IHSA Collegiate Cup equestrian national championship. Stonehill student-athletes have also excelled in the classroom under Sullivan's watch, as the department has been recognized nationally for its student-athlete graduation rate and for its well-rounded athletics program.

Sullivan oversaw Stonehill’s highly successful intercollegiate athletics and recreational sports programs, which serves the entire student body on a daily basis. The athletic department finished in the top three of the NE10 Presidents’ Cup standings for ten straight years, a stretch that began during her time as athletic director. The athletic department won four Presidents’ Cups in all, including a string of three-straight from 2010 through 2012, and also performed in the classroom by earning the NCAA Division II Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence each of the first three years of its existence.

Stonehill Rec Sports services students, faculty, staff and administrators within the Stonehill Community in a variety of sports, fitness, wellness and recreational activities. The department is not only responsible for the overall fitness and wellness program at the College, but sponsors competitive club sports programs and intramural programs.

Sullivan served on numerous NCAA and ECAC committees during her time as a full-time athletics administrator and was Interim Commissioner of the NE10 during the 2007-08 academic year, while also maintaining her duties as Director of Athletics at Stonehill. Julie Ruppert, current NE10 Commissioner, was hired in the full-time role in May of 2008.

“There are no words that can truly capture Paula’s impact on Stonehill and our athletic and recreation program,” said Stonehill president, Fr. John Denning, C.S.C. upon the announcement of her retirement. “Throughout her 43 years of service to the College, she distinguished herself as a true leader and mentor, both at Stonehill and in the Northeast-10 Conference, always demonstrating great care for our student-athletes. Stonehill is so much better because of Paula's untiring dedication to the College.”

A 1971 graduate of Bridgewater State (Mass.) University, Sullivan is a member of six Halls of Fame, including her alma maters at Archbishop Williams High School and Bridgewater State. She is a charter member of the Stonehill Athletics Hall of Fame and has also been enshrined in the Northeast-10 Conference, New England Basketball Coaches and New Agenda Northeast Halls of Fame. Sullivan has also honored as recipient of Dr. Catherine Comeau Award for Professional Achievement from Bridgewater State, the Moreau Medallion Award for significant contribution to Stonehill’s success in the first 50 years and the Gaudete Medal for long and distinguished service to Stonehill. She has also collected the Easton (Mass.) Chamber of Commerce Community Award and the Pathfinder Award from the Massachusetts Association of Physical Education, Health, Recreation and Dance for her contributions to women's athletics.

Paula Sullivan Links of Note:

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