Frankie Sullivan Named Head Coach Of James Clemens Boy’s Basketball
MADISON- Personally picked and groomed in the summer of 2018 to replace the recently retired Danny Petty, Frankie Sullivan was named the new boys head basketball coach at James Clemens High at the Madison City Schools Board Meeting Tuesday night.
“I thank God for this opportunity and the Madison City Schools and the administration for their support during this process,” said Sullivan. “I certainly want to give a big shout out to Coach Petty. He called me last year and asked if I wanted to move to Madison and join his program. That call changed my life and has advanced my career.”
Sullivan lettered five years at Auburn University from 2009-2013 and was team captain three seasons. He was the Tigers’ eighth all-time scoring leader with 1,556 points and led the team in scoring both his junior and senior seasons.
Upon leaving college, he played two seasons of professional basketball overseas before returning to the “Loveliest Village on the Plains” to become a graduate manager for the Tigers’ program. In his third season on the Auburn staff, his name was wrongfully connected to the FBI investigation of corruption among several college basketball programs. At Auburn, assistant coach Chuck Person was arrested in Sept. 2017 on federal bribery and corruption charges.
In Nov. 2017, Sullivan was placed on “indefinite leave” by the university. Since that time Sullivan has been cleared of any wrong doing and made his way to James Clemens in May of 2018 to become assistant coach under Petty.
“He’s a great guy and has great relationships with the players and their parents and certainly knows the game of basketball,” said Petty. “He was the correct choice for the job.”
“I’m very grateful to have worked with a legend like Coach Petty as he taught me a lot,” added Sullivan, 29. “My style of coaching is a realist. I don’t sell dreams. I’m a little blunt at times, but I help the players correct their mistakes. I believe I’ve earned the respect of the parents by being honest with each of them.”
A native of Uniontown, Ala., Sullivan was a six-year varsity player at R.C. Hatch High scoring more than 4,000 points and led the program to five state championships in his six-year tenure. He was named the Class 2A Player of the Year.
At Auburn, Sullivan earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and five years later earned his master’s degree in Adult Education. He will teach physical education at James Clemens.
Sullivan is married to Precious Sullivan as they were joined in matrimony a year ago. She works as a site coordinator for Facebook. Sullivan’s parents live in the area as his younger brother, Lewis, just graduated from UAB after playing at Hazel Green High. Sullivan said his parents taught him great values that he carries today.
“I’m ready to get started as right now I’m soaking in the moment of this new challenge in my life,” added Sullivan. “When I suffered an ACL injury going into my junior season at Auburn the situation brought me closer to God and helped me focus more on school. It also taught me to have respect for myself. I think I’m ready for this opportunity and I will forever be thankful to Coach Petty for making that call.”
