Erik Sullivan, a member of the 2004 USA Olympic men’s volleyball team, is in his fourth year as an assistant coach with the Colorado volleyball program as he began his appointment with the Buffaloes on July 1, 2004. Sullivan works primarily with outside hitters and passing.
Sullivan, 35, played libero for Team USA at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. His trip to Athens was his second Olympic tour of duty as he was a co-captain of Team USA at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
An eight-year veteran of the U.S. National Team, Sullivan’s defensive successes are recognized around the globe. He earned Best Defensive Player in the World at the 1998 World Championships and that same year he earned the USA National Team’s Tom Haine Players’ Award. Sullivan was touted as the America’s Cup Best Reception Player in 2000 and the Best Libero at the 2001 World Championship Qualifier. He was the Best Defensive Player at the 1997 NORCECA Zone Championships and the Best Reception Player at the 1999 NORCECA.
Sullivan’s playing experience has also stretched to the professional ranks in Europe. His professional resume includes stints in Naefels, Switzerland (1995-97), Malaga, Spain (1999), Apeldoorn, The Netherlands (2000-01) and Odintsovo, Russia, (2003).
Back in the USA, Sullivan played professionally on the Bud Light Four-Man Volleyball Beatch Tour from 1996-97. He was named the tour’s Rookie of the Year in 1996 and was tabbed the tour’s Left Side Player of the Year in 1997.
Sullivan served as director of the Pikes Peak Volleyball Club in Colorado Springs, Colo., from 2001-02 and served as coach of the club’s 17 & Under contingent.
A two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) second-team All-American at UCLA, Sullivan guided the Bruins to a pair of national titles during his four-year playing career (1992-95). Sullivan finished his career as the UCLA’s all-time leader in matches with 10 or more digs (25) and ranked second in career digs (747). As a senior in 1995, Sullivan captained the Bruins to an NCAA title while ranking ninth nationally in digs (2.5 dpg). He graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in Physiological Science in the spring of 1995.
A native of Encinitas, Calif., Sullivan is married to the former Amanda Heavner of Santa Barbara, Calif. The couple has a daughter, Shaye (4) and a son, Cade (1).
