Ryan Sullivan joined the Northwestern volleyball staff as a volunteer assistant in the 2019 season. 
 
Sullivan comes to Northwestern after serving as the assistant coach at Mississippi State University in 2018 and more recently worked with Adversity Volleyball Club. 
 
Before that, he spent 2017 as the associate head coach of Jacksonville University, where he led the Dolphins defense to a runner-up campaign in the ASUN and a Defensive Player of the Year award along with five all conference selections.  He also acted as the head of the schools beach volleyball program.
 
Prior to his time in Jacksonville, Sullivan was the head coach of Louisburg College in 2016, and assistant coach and video coordinator at Villanova University from 2014-2016.  During his two seasons in Philadelphia, he trained two All-East Region players, and helped lead the Wildcats to an at-large NCAA bid in 2015.
 
Sullivan graduated from Indiana University in 2012 where he competed as a setter with the IU men's club team, earning MIVA Player of the Year in 2011 en route to a 3rd place finish at NCVF Nationals. After graduation, the Mundelein, Illinois native worked with women's program where he served as a volunteer assistant through the 2013 season.