Windsor Locks Soccer Field Named for Suffield Native

The soccer field at Windsor Locks High School has been renamed in honor of the man who patrolled the sidelines for nearly four decades.

Dedication of the Daniel F. Sullivan Soccer Field took place Monday night in the high school auditorium.

Sullivan, now 80, began coaching the Raiders in 1961, when he started physical education at the school. For many years, he was a three-season coach, piloting the basketball and baseball teams as well. His 1966 baseball squad won the Class M state title.

The Suffield native experienced success unmatched by most high school soccer coaches in the state, winning six state championships in three different decades.

The Raiders won the Class M title four times between 1963 and 1971, including an 8-0 thrashing of St. Paul in the 1970 finals. Windsor Locks also captured the Class S championship in 1990 and 1994.

In between, the Raiders were state runners-up three times in the 1970s - once in Class M and twice in Class L.

He retired from Windsor Locks after 39 seasons in 1999, then coached the Suffield High School girls’ team for six years before retiring for good in 2005.

Sullivan’s list of accolades is quite extensive; a partial listing includes:

• Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance Gold Key Award, 1994
• Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, 1995
• National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame, 2001
• Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame, 2002
• Suffield Athletic Hall of Fame, 2002
• Windsor Locks Athletic Hall of Fame, 2005

Photos courtesy of Melanie Oliveira/PhotosFromTheSidelines.com