He served on the coaching staff at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) from 1999 to 2007. While at UAB, Sullivan worked with the team's quarterbacks and was the offensive coordinator from 1999-2005. He served as the assistant head coach and running backs coach in 2006. Sullivan also has experience as a head coach at the Division I-A level, as he served as the head coach at TCU from 1992-97. Sullivan, a 1972 graduate of Auburn, was a three-year starter at quarterback for the Tigers (1969-71). In addition to winning the Heisman Trophy, he was named an All-American and the SEC Player of the Year in 1970 and 1971. Sullivan played professional football for five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers. Sullivan is a member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. Sullivan has previous ties to Samford as his father, Jerry, played football at Samford (then Howard College) in the late 1940s. Sullivan and his wife, Jean, have three children, daughter Kim, and twins Kelly and Patrick.