Sullivan returns
- Updated: March 20, 2025
Former Jacksonville State All-American lineman, veteran head coach approved as Jacksonville High’s next head football coach.
Jeremy Sullivan’s resume
—Four-year starter (1998-2001) and All-American (2001) offensive lineman,Jacksonville State University.
—Assistant coach, Jax State (2002-2007), two Ohio Valley Conference championships.
—Assistant coach, Demopolis High School (2008), AHSAA playoffs (third round).
—Head Coach, Citronelle High School (2009-2010).
—Assistant coach/defensive coordinator, Jackson High School (2011-2014), 2011 AHSAA 4A state champions with a 15-0 record, 47-6 record over four years.
—Offensive coordinator/assistant head coach/offensive line coach, Pelham High School (2015-2016).
—Head coach, Boaz High School (2017-2024), seven consecutive AHSAA Playoff appearances. Posted a 9-3 record in 2024, finishing second in the region. Broke all offensive records during time at Boaz.
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
JACKSONVILLE — Jeremy Sullivan’s coaching influences span from his time playing for Jacksonville State University to his time coaching under two state-championship coaches.
The former Jax State All-American offensive lineman hopes to use what he’s learned to help Jacksonville High School navigate its new Class 5A reality, aligned in a region with powers Moody and Leeds.
The Jacksonville City Schools board approved Sullivan’s hiring during its Thursday meeting. He will replace Clint Smith, who accepted the White Plains head coaching job after 13 seasons at Jacksonville.
“We are thrilled to name Jeremy Sullivan as the new head football coach at Jacksonville High School and excited to partner with him to build the strongest staff possible to lead our program into the future,” Jacksonville principal Dr. Russ Waits said. “Coach Sullivan emerged immediately from a very strong field of 39 applicants which included multiple active head coaches.
“His success as a college and high school assistant coach, high school head coach, and All-American player at Jacksonville State has well equipped him to lead us to new levels of success.”
Sullivan comes to Jacksonville after eight seasons at Boaz and 10 seasons as a head coach. He was 44-45 with seven playoff appearances at Boaz. He’s 51-58 overall, including two seasons at Citronelle.
Sullivan’s last two Boaz teams advanced to the second round of the playoffs, earning the Pirates’ first two playoff victories since 2008. They won a playoff game in consecutive years for the first time since reaching the quarterfinals in 2002 and 2003.
Sullivan was an All-Southland Conference offensive lineman for Jax State in 2000 and 2001 a second-team All-American in 2001. He was a team captain under then head coach Jack Crowe in 2001.
Sullivan went on to become an assistant coach under Crowe from 2004-07, helping guide the Gamecocks to an Ohio Valley Conference championship in 2004.
Sullivan started every game his final three seasons at Jax State. In 2001, he helped anchor a offensive line that opened holes for the Southland’s top rushing team, which gained 2,491 yards on the ground.
During his junior season, the Gamecocks finished second in the Southland in rushing and 26th nationally.
He was also an academic All-Southland pick in 1999 and 2000.
Sullivan takes over a Jacksonville program that reached new heights under Smith, The Golden Eagles made 12 of their 16 playoff appearances under Smith, reaching the 2019 Class 4A state final.
“It’s a great program,” Sullivan said. “Everybody is really making a commitment to taking it to a whole ‘nother level. They’ve been very successful over the last few years, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Jacksonville recently went to a turf field at Golden Eagle stadium, and Sullivan said plans are underway for more facilities upgrades.
Sullivan also said he was drawn to the opportunity to bring in coaches after much of Smith’s staff followed him to White Plains.
“That’s the key to having success anywhere,” he said, “I think they’re going to give me the tools to be able to do that.”
Sullivan graduated from Leroy High School and attended Jax State, where he met his wife Erica, an Oxford High graduate.
Many of Sullivan’s coaching influences came from Crowe’s Jax State staff. Sullivan also worked under Danny Powell at Jackson High School and Tom Causey at Pelham and Demopolis. Powell won five AHSAA state titles at Leroy and Jackson and one AISA title at Lee-Scott Academy. Causey’s 2009 Demopolis team won an AHSAA state title.
“They’re completely different guys. They have completely different ways of doing it,” Sullivan said. “I learned a lot about dealing with players and how to get the most out of high school players and using the players that you have to create the best possible outcome.
“When you’re at Jax State, you can go get another left guard if you need one,” Sullivan said. “When you’re in high school, you have to take the players that you’ve got and make your system fit the players that you have.
“Both of those guys are great doing that, and that’s one of the biggest things I learned from them.”
Jeremy Sullivan’s head coaching history
| YEAR | TEAM | OVERALL | REGION | PLAYOFFS |
| 2024 | Boaz | 9-3 | 5-1 | 1-1 |
| 2023 | Boaz | 6-6 | 2-3 | 1-1 |
| 2022 | Boaz | 4-7 | 3-3 | 0-1 |
| 2021 | Boaz | 6-5 | 4-2 | 0-1 |
| 2020 | Boaz | 5-6 | 4-2 | 0-1 |
| 2019 | Boaz | 4-7 | 3-3 | 0-1 |
| 2018 | Boaz | 7-4 | 4-2 | 0-1 |
| 2017 | Boaz | 3-7 | 2-5 | |
| Totals | Eight seasons | 44-45 | 27-21 | 2-7 |
| 2010 | Citronelle | 4-6 | 2-4 | |
| 2009 | Citronelle | 3-7 | 1-6 | |
| Totals | Two seasons | 7-13 | 3-10 | |
| OVERALL | 10 seasons | 51-58 | 30-31 | 2-7 |
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