When ivybasketball.com first came on the scene back in 2000-01, we listed Frank Sullivan under “Coaches on the Hot Seat” in our inaugural season preview. This was based on statements by some trusted sources. However, it turned out they were just speculating idly based on some circumstantial information and a weak one-man recruiting class that fall. Coming off its fifth-straight upper division finish, several people around the Harvard program made it known that this was not the case.
Fastforward five seasons and there is ample reason to believe Sullivan’s job actually is in legitimate jeopardy this time. Two weekends ago the questions about Sullivan’s future started coming fast and furious from people all around the league. Initially I dismissed this talk as uninformed conjecture by outsiders unfamiliar with the lower pressure environment for men’s basketball at Harvard.
“This is relatively par for the course at Harvard — both prior to Sullivan and during his tenure. What could have possibly changed such that this is suddenly a problem?” I asked each person who broached the subject. When they couldn’t answer that question, it convinced me there was nothing to this talk.
But now I’m starting to get answers to that question, and its the same answer from multiple sources — and with specifics. Without going into details, reportedly the Harvard athletic department is taking a serious look at the performance of the men’s basketball program. Perhaps it’s the fact that in the last four years, Sullivan has had two talented, experienced teams absolutely disintegrate down the stretch on him after fast starts in the league. The 2002-03 team that started five seniors did have the excuse of losing Patrick Harvey, but while everyone around the program insists nobody has thrown in the towel this year, the performances on the court certainly say otherwise. Add in the four-win 2003-04 season and you can understand why Harvard could be considering a coaching change.
Anyone who has covered the league knows Frank Sullivan to be a gentleman and an all-around great guy. From my experience covering Harvard games, he is an absolute joy for the media to work with and represents the program very well, so it’s certainly not enjoyable to question his job security like this. Sullivan has put the best face on the recent disappointments, staying noticeably positive throughout the two recent flameouts by experienced teams and the rough 4-23 campaign by an inexperienced one. But if the reports are accurate, all of that might not be enough for the second longest-tenured coach in the league.
