Neil Sullivan serves as Vice President and Director of Athletics at the University of Dayton, a position he has held since September 2015. Appointed at age 34, Sullivan was one of the youngest individuals to lead a Division I athletics program at a nationally recognized institution. As a member of the President's Cabinet, he provides strategic leadership for one of the University's most visible enterprises, overseeing 17 varsity sports, more than 430 student-athletes, 100+ full-time employees, and an annual operating budget exceeding $45 million.
Under Sullivan's leadership, Dayton Athletics has strengthened its position, combining competitive excellence, academic achievement, financial sustainability, and community engagement. His tenure has been defined by a commitment to aligning athletic success with the University's Catholic, Marianist mission while navigating a rapidly evolving collegiate athletics landscape.
Sullivan oversees an athletics program with a nationally recognized basketball tradition and one of the most passionate fan bases in college sports. During his leadership, Dayton men's basketball has continued its rise on the national stage, including multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, a No. 3 national ranking in 2019-20, National Coach of the Year and National Player of the Year honors, multiple NBA Draft selections, and sustained sellout crowds at UD Arena. Since 2021, every home men's basketball game has sold out, extending one of the longest active sellout streaks in college basketball. Since UD Arena opened in 1969, Dayton has been in the NCAA`s Top 35 in every season
Sullivan led the completion of the transformational $80 million renovation of UD Arena during its 50th anniversary season. The project modernized one of college basketball's most iconic venues while preserving its unique game-day atmosphere and community significance. Today, UD Arena remains one of the nation's premier basketball facilities, hosting more NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament games than any venue in history and major community events.
Beyond basketball, Sullivan has prioritized excellence across all sports. Since arriving at Dayton in 2006, the Flyers have captured 77Â conference regular-season and tournament championships, including 33Â during his tenure as Director of Athletics. Dayton's nationally respected women's volleyball and men's and women's soccer programs have become consistent contenders on the conference and national levels, while numerous teams have earned postseason and NCAA Tournament appearances.
Academic success has remained central to Sullivan's leadership philosophy. Since becoming Director of Athletics, Dayton student-athletes have achieved record levels of classroom performance,Graduation Success Rates among the top 10 percent nationally, and Academic Progress Rate scores that rank among the strongest in Division I athletics. More than half of all Flyer student-athletes maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Sullivan has also championed significant investments in student-athlete development, facilities, and operational infrastructure. Every varsity program has benefited from facility enhancements, training resources, academic support improvements, or competitive upgrades during his tenure. These investments have strengthened Dayton's ability to recruit, develop, and support student-athletes at the highest levels.
Sullivan joined the University of Dayton in 2006 and has served in multiple leadership roles, including Deputy / Associate Director of Athletics, Assistant Director of Athletics, and Director of Compliance. Prior to Dayton, he worked for the Big Ten Conference. Throughout his career, he has maintained an active role in conference and national governance, including serving as Chair of the Atlantic 10 Conference Athletic Directors.Â
In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Sullivan previously served as University of Dayton adjunct instructor for more than ten years , teaching courses in sport finance and athletic facility management. He has been recognized by the Dayton Business Journal as a Forty Under 40 honoree and was later inducted into its Forty Under 40 Hall of Fame. Sullivan was named National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA)  Under Armour AD of the Year Award in 2020.
A native of the Pittsburgh area, Sullivan earned a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from Penn State University and an MBA from Robert Morris University. He and his wife, Crystal, reside in Waynesville, Ohio, with their three sons, Caleb, Mac, and Colin.
