| Title: | Head Coach |
| Phone: | (916) 558-2684 |
| Email: | sullivd@scc.losrios.edu |
Coach Sullivan begins his 10th season as the Head Coach of the Panthers, his 18th year as a member of the coaching staff, and his 21st involved in the City College program. In addition to his coaching duties, he also teaches full-time in the Kinesiology, Health, and Athletics Division.
In his nine years as the head coach, Coach Sullivan has had 3 players sign professional contracts with Major League teams (Dennis Boatman, Marshall Hunt, Nick Mears) with Nick Mears becoming the first player in his signing class to reach the big leagues! He has had 97 players transfer to four-year universities. 43 Sac City student-athletes have arrived on campus to play for NCAA D1 schools, including Arkansas, Texas Christian, Oregon State, Arizona, Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, Miami, UC Irvine, Utah, St. John’s, Nevada, Austin Peay, Abilene Christian, Campbell, Winthrop, Stony Brook, Radford, New Mexico, Fresno State, San Jose State, Illinois State, Western Carolina, Cal State Northridge, Wagner, Northern Colorado, Incarnate Word, Eastern Kentucky, Central Arkansas, and UC Davis. Another 30 transferred to play at NCAA D2 and D3 schools, including Chico State, Sonoma State, Nova Southeastern, San Francisco State, Eastern New Mexico, CSU East Bay, Texas-Permian Basin, Stanislaus State, La Verne, Azusa Pacific, CSU Monterey Bay, and Willamette. Deciding to play for Coach Sullivan and the Panthers goes beyond having a desire to win. Having a commitment to prepare for the next level, both on the field and off, is a huge part of becoming a “Sac City Guy.”
While at City, Coach Sullivan has amassed an overall record of 214-115 (.648 winning %). The Panthers have qualified for the postseason in six of the seven eligible years (’13, ’14, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’19), won three Regionals (’17, ’18, ’19), three Super Regionals (’17, ‘18, ’19) and two Sectionals (’18, ’19) while finishing 3rd in California in 2019 and as the State Runner-Up in 2018! Including his playing career and time spent as an assistant at SCC, he has been involved in six California Final Fours (’01, ’02, ’06, ’07, ’18, ’19) and three State Championship games (’02, ’06, ’18)!!! The Panthers have tallied 33 or more wins in three seasons (’17, ’18, ’19).
“Sully” returned to the coach for the Panthers in 2005 after playing for ABCA Hall of Fame coach, Ed Blankmeyer, at St. John’s University in 2003 and 2004. As a member of the Red Storm, Derek was a utility infielder and played in the 2004 NCAA Stanford Regional. He played at Sac City under CCCBCA Hall of Fame coach, Andy McKay, in 2001 and 2002, reaching the Final Four in both years.
Over the 2011 and 2012 summers, Derek was a part of the Chatham A’s coaching staff in the Cape Cod League. He followed in the footsteps of former SCC head coach Andy McKay, and current SCC pitching coach Deskaheh Bomberry, who both coached in Chatham for longtime skipper John Schiffner. “The Cape” continues to serve as college baseball’s premier summer league, attracting the best amateur players in the country.
A graduate of Woodcreek High School, Sacramento City College (A.A.), St. John’s University (B.A.) and Sacramento State University (M.B.A.), Derek now lives in Land Park and has three children, Abigail, McKenna and Kellen.