To Contact Coach Sullivan:
csulliva@monmouth.eduEntering her fifth season at the helm of the Monmouth University softball program, head coach Carol Sullivan has the Hawks positioned among the nation?s best offenses and headed towards her goal of becoming a regional power in the Northeast.
In 2005, the Hawks finished 29-20. The record is Monmouth?s best mark since Sullivan took the reigns four years ago and the fourth highest victory total in school history. With power and speed threats up and down the lineup, Monmouth slugged and raced their way to their 29 wins including triumphs over Big East, Atlantic 10, Colonial and Ivy League opponents. In the increasingly competitive Northeast Conference, the Hawks? in-conference results left them just shy of garnering a third straight NEC tournament berth. But with only three seniors graduated from the 2005 campaign, a core group of talented producers returning and a very promising frosh class, Sullivan eyes the upcoming season with anticipation. And she believes this ?06 squad will exceed last year?s successes.
Last season was a banner one for the Blue and White, as they re-wrote the offensive school record book. The 2005 squad broke the single season record for home runs with 27, surpassing the 2001 mark of 25. Graduated senior Kristin Wilson (.423) and returner Sue Micchelli (.399) finished 13th and 41st respectively in the national Division I batting average rankings. As a team. the Hawks won the NCAA national triples title, ranking first in triples per game (.53). Their .305 mark was the second highest team batting average in school history and good for 17th nationally out of more than 250 DI programs.
Since taking over the program in the fall of 2001, Sullivan has seen the Hawks gather seven All-NEC selections, including three first team members in 2005: Kristin Wilson (?05), and returning veterans Sue Micchelli (?06) and Heather Gordon (?07). In 2003 and 2004, Sullivan guided Monmouth to consecutive appearances in the Northeast Conference tournament. In her first three seasons as the Blue and White?s skipper, she led Monmouth to a 47-35 record in NEC action.
Sullivan, a native of Passaic, N.J., arrived in West Long Branch after a three-year stint as an assistant coach at Dartmouth College. Extensively involved with the program?s recruiting efforts and offensive training, Sullivan helped the Big Green shatter numerous records on its way to consecutive post-season appearances in the 2000 and 2001 Eastern College Athletics Conference (ECAC) Championships. In 2001, she helped guide the Big Green to a 23-19 record, a third-place finish in the Ivy League and a second-place showing at the ECACs. In 2000, Sullivan helped steer Dartmouth to a 32-16 record and a runner-up finish in the Ivy League. It marked the first time in school history the squad posted back-to-back winning seasons.
Sullivan started coaching collegiately as an assistant at her alma mater Seton Hall University where she was in charge of coaching all aspects of outfield defense. Sullivan began coaching as an assistant for the North Jersey Shilohs of Wayne, N.J. in 1993. In 1994, she took over as head coach of the ASA 16-and-under fastpitch program and over the next four summers, guided the team to two ASA national tournaments. Sullivan is in her 14th season of coaching softball with eight years in the collegiate ranks.
Sullivan was named to the Big East Academic All-Star team and honored as Seton Hall?s Class Scholar Athlete all four years. A starter behind the plate for the Pirates from 1992 to 1995, she graduated Summa Cum Laude and with honors in communications from SHU in May of 1995.
