- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 407,503
- Reaction score
- 43
Boaz football coach Jeremy Sullivan has taken the job to lead the Jacksonville High School program.
The move was made official at a Jacksonville City School board meeting Thursday. It comes after he led the Pirates for eight seasons, going 44-45 with seven straight playoff appearances. He advanced to the second round the last two seasons, winning a share of the Class 5A, Region 8 title in 2024.
"Well just, I kind of got to a point where I thought it was time for me to find something new to focus my energy on. Just felt like it was the right time for me and my family to take on a new challenge," Sullivan said.
Sullivan played for Jacksonville State football, earning all-America honors in 2001 as an offensive lineman, so the return to Jacksonville is a homecoming of sorts. He also was an assistant coach with the Gamecocks, helping them win two conference titles.
The long-term success of Jacksonville, a program that has made 12 straight playoff appearances under former coach Clint Smith – who left for White Plains earlier this offseason after going 105-47 in 13 seasons – was what made the job attractive before he got to know the program more over the hiring process.
"They've had a lot of success," Sullivan said. "I went to school there, so I'm familiar with the community. After meeting with them and meeting the administration, I felt that was a good fit for me. I thought it was a good opportunity and a different kind of challenge and one that I was ready for."
Sullivan has also been a head coach at Citronelle for two seasons and spent time as an assistant at Demopolis, Jackson and Pelham before being hired by Boaz.
JEREMY SULLIVAN: Boaz football's father-son of Jeremy and Ty Sullivan are cherishing final games together
SOUTHSIDE SOCCER: Southside boys soccer's Camren Thompson dedication to hard work pays off with UAB signing
COOSA CHRISTIAN LAWSUIT UPDATE: Coosa Christian, AHSAA to meet in court over motion to dismiss lawsuit over violations
Long ties to the community made the conversation with players hard, but Sullivan has always spoken highly about his bunch of athletes at Boaz.
"I love those kids. *t was very hard for me to have that conversation with them. I have always said the best thing about being the coach at Boaz is what great kids you get to coach every day and be around every day," Sullivan said. "Some of the highest-character kids, best kids I've ever coached, have been here. A lot of them are friends with my daughter and my son, and I've been knowing them since they were 7, 8 years old. It was tough to tell them that I thought it was time for me to move on."
Jacksonville made the move back to Class 5A last season for the first time since 2001 and is in a region with semifinalist Leeds and Moody. Sullivan will be tasked with breaking through one of the tougher regions in the classification, like he did with Boaz up in Region 8.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Jeremy Sullivan hired by Jacksonville High football after 8 seasons at Boaz
Continue reading...
The move was made official at a Jacksonville City School board meeting Thursday. It comes after he led the Pirates for eight seasons, going 44-45 with seven straight playoff appearances. He advanced to the second round the last two seasons, winning a share of the Class 5A, Region 8 title in 2024.
"Well just, I kind of got to a point where I thought it was time for me to find something new to focus my energy on. Just felt like it was the right time for me and my family to take on a new challenge," Sullivan said.
Sullivan played for Jacksonville State football, earning all-America honors in 2001 as an offensive lineman, so the return to Jacksonville is a homecoming of sorts. He also was an assistant coach with the Gamecocks, helping them win two conference titles.
The long-term success of Jacksonville, a program that has made 12 straight playoff appearances under former coach Clint Smith – who left for White Plains earlier this offseason after going 105-47 in 13 seasons – was what made the job attractive before he got to know the program more over the hiring process.
"They've had a lot of success," Sullivan said. "I went to school there, so I'm familiar with the community. After meeting with them and meeting the administration, I felt that was a good fit for me. I thought it was a good opportunity and a different kind of challenge and one that I was ready for."
Sullivan has also been a head coach at Citronelle for two seasons and spent time as an assistant at Demopolis, Jackson and Pelham before being hired by Boaz.
JEREMY SULLIVAN: Boaz football's father-son of Jeremy and Ty Sullivan are cherishing final games together
SOUTHSIDE SOCCER: Southside boys soccer's Camren Thompson dedication to hard work pays off with UAB signing
COOSA CHRISTIAN LAWSUIT UPDATE: Coosa Christian, AHSAA to meet in court over motion to dismiss lawsuit over violations
Long ties to the community made the conversation with players hard, but Sullivan has always spoken highly about his bunch of athletes at Boaz.
"I love those kids. *t was very hard for me to have that conversation with them. I have always said the best thing about being the coach at Boaz is what great kids you get to coach every day and be around every day," Sullivan said. "Some of the highest-character kids, best kids I've ever coached, have been here. A lot of them are friends with my daughter and my son, and I've been knowing them since they were 7, 8 years old. It was tough to tell them that I thought it was time for me to move on."
Jacksonville made the move back to Class 5A last season for the first time since 2001 and is in a region with semifinalist Leeds and Moody. Sullivan will be tasked with breaking through one of the tougher regions in the classification, like he did with Boaz up in Region 8.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Jeremy Sullivan hired by Jacksonville High football after 8 seasons at Boaz
Continue reading...
