Ohio State head women’s basketball coach Kevin McGuff announced Friday the hire of assistant coach Jennifer Sullivan.
“I am really excited to add Jennifer to our staff,” McGuff said in a statement. “Her basketball knowledge and her diverse background will be a great asset as we continue to build a championship program.”
Sullivan, who spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Missouri State, enters McGuff’s staff after the Lady Bears won 93 games and made the 2016 NCAA tournament.
“I’d like to thank coach McGuff for giving me this opportunity and I am excited to join the Ohio State women’s basketball program,” Sullivan said in a statement. “His brand of basketball is fun and exciting and I can’t wait to add my skills to the staff and help continue the success the team has enjoyed in recent seasons.”
Prior to her stint with Missouri State, Sullivan was the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2012-13. She joined the Ragin’ Cajuns after three years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator with Arkansas State in her hometown of Jonesboro, Ark., from 2009-12.
The earlier stages of Sullivan’s coaching career include stops at McNeese State (2008-09), Memphis (2007-08) and Rhodes College (2005-07). Before her switch to the sidelines, Sullivan was a three-year starter and four-year letterwinner from 2001-05 at Memphis where she capped her playing career with 800 points, 310 rebounds and 99 steals. As a senior in 2004-05, Sullivan was named team MVP of the Tigers.
With the Buckeyes, she rounds out McGuff’s three-person staff of associate head coach Patrick Klein and Carrie Banks. Sullivan replaces Mark Mitchell, who was an assistant coach for the past four years, hired by OSU before the 2014-15 season. Earlier in the month, Mitchell said in a tweet posted to his Twitter account that he resigned to pursue opportunities elsewhere as a head coach.
No they didn't let me go I resigned to seek HC opportunities! As hard as it is for black males in this business we sure don't need anyone preventing us from further opportunities https://t.co/kXFH1jO6tz
— coach mitch (@headbusta420) May 8, 2018
