Nikki Sullivan
Head Coach
Women's Basketball
Head Coach Nikki Sullivan enters her third year at the helm of the RedHawks women's basketball program for the 2006-2007 season. Sullivan begins the season with thirteen highly touted new players, including six freshmen and seven transfers, as well as two returnees. This season looks to be one of the most exciting in recent years, as the RedHawks look to explode onto the national scene.
Last season saw much improvement as the team won seven more games than the previous year, tying the school record for the second most wins in a season since Martin Methodist College became a 4-year school. The program also signed one of the best recruiting classes in its history, adding thirteen total new players. The 2004-2005 season brought much change to the MMC program as Sullivan implemented her up-tempo style of play. The season highlight was a win over No. 13 nationally ranked Cumberland College, which was only the fourth win over a ranked opponent in school history. With Sullivan’s guidance the team also made huge strides academically. During the 2004-2005 academic year, the team’s average GPA was over a 3.0 which was significantly higher than the team’s 2.02 GPA when Sullivan arrived.
Sullivan came to Martin Methodist College from Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee where she was the recruiting coordinator during the 2003-2004 season. A Florida native, she began her coaching career in Lakeland, Florida where she helped guide George Jenkins High School to the State Finals in the 1999-2000 season.
During the 2000-2002 basketball seasons, Sullivan was an assistant coach at Campbell University where she helped guide the Lady Camels to an Atlantic Sun Championship and a Runners-up finish in the Conference Championship. She was then named head coach at Lyman High in Orlando, Florida where she remained for a one year stint before becoming the recruiting coordinator at Tusculum College.
Sullivan had an impressive playing career as well, beginning at the University of Florida where she signed a letter of intent in 1994. After playing in every game as a freshman and making it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Sullivan then transferred to Rollins College in 1996. She helped guide Rollins to a 27-3 record her senior season, a school record for wins in a season, and a Regular Season and Conference Championship. Her team was the No. 1 seed in the South Regional for the NCAA Division II Tournament. While at Rollins, Sullivan earned First Team All-Conference, Conference Tournament MVP, team MVP, Female Athlete of the Year, and Central Florida Female Athlete of the Year leading her team with 16.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. After graduating from Rollins, Sullivan then played professionally for a short stint overseas for the Bracknell, England Thames Valley Tigers, leading her team in points and rebounds per game.
While at Lakeland High School, Sullivan was a standout player earning All-America honors, First Team All-State, Miss Florida Runner-up her junior year, Area Player of the Year three times, and was ranked as one of the 50 best players in the nation. She holds every major career record at Lakeland High School, most notably every major scoring record, including being the all-time leading scorer, scoring the most points in a season, and most points in a game with 50.
Sullivan graduated from Rollins in 1999 with a Bachelors Degree in English. She received her Masters Degree from Campbell University in 2001, with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. She is the youngest of five children, and has a twin sister.
What They’re Saying about Nikki Sullivan:
Energetic, poised, and confident are the terms that Martin Methodist Director of Athletics, Jeff Bain, uses to describe new RedHawks women’s basketball coach, Nikki Sullivan. “Every person whom I contacted eventually said to me that Nikki was the best person that they had ever had for the task that she was performing…the best player, the best assistant coach, the best administrator. It was almost like everyone was reading from the same script,” Bain said. -- Jeff Bain, Director of Athletics, Martin Methodist College
“Martin Methodist made a tremendous hire with Nikki Sullivan. She has a bright future in college coaching and is ready for the challenge of being a head coach for the first time. She is a real people person who will relate well with all constituents of the college. I look forward to watching her progress and success.” -- Ed Hoffmeyer, Director of Athletics, Tusculum College
“Nikki is an up and coming coach in college basketball. She is a very driven, highly motivated individual who knows her ‘stuff.’ I think she may have one of the best basketball minds I have ever met. I have no doubt Nikki will be successful at Martin Methodist and will move up and onward as her career progresses.” -- Former Head Coach Suzanne McBride, Tusculum College
“Nikki is a tireless worker who puts her heart and soul into whatever she is doing. She has a true passion for the game of basketball and being a positive influence on the lives of young people. I am extremely excited for her and believe she will make a wonderful head coach!” -- Head Coach Wanda Watkins, Campbell University
“Nikki was one of the smarter players who could see a play before it happened. She will be a great coach because of her leadership as a player, her tireless work ethic, and her knowledge of the game.” -- Head Coach Glenn Wilkes, Rollins College
“Nikki had a great understanding for the game as a player, which is carried over into her coaching. Her calm and patient demeanor will also be another attribute to coaching her players.” -- Head Men’s Basketball Coach Tom Klusman, Rollins College
