Best of Cleveland
Best Soccer Sensei
Sean Sullivan
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It would be just about impossible to calculate the number of kids who have loved soccer — for a season or for life — because of Sean Sullivan. Weekdays until 3, he's a Cleveland Heights teacher (and was the district's Educator of the Year in 2003). But most evenings and weekends for well over a decade, he's been sharing his lifelong passion for the world's most popular game with anyone and everyone who wants to play it. He coaches the Heights High team, of course, but his Heights United Soccer Academy also offers individual instruction, indoor leagues and a surprisingly affordable summer camp (he runs fundraisers to keep the costs down and participation up). His latest soccer-related labor of love: teaching moms. Shortly before his own mother passed last year, she told him that she'd loved the parent-kids games from Sean's youth-league days, but had always wished she'd had the chance to really learn the game. So today, in her memory, he runs a weekly clinic for moms. There's a fee, but Sean pours all of it into teaching more kids. He's an inspirational ESPN segment or documentary waiting to happen. (heightsunitedsoccer.com) — Lewis
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Sean's awesome. I am one of the Mom's he coaches and we love training with Sean. He also has a hand in coaching both my kids. We have been very pleased with his coaching style but also his committment to the nutritional health of our youth. He has promoted eating fruits as snack and drinking water to rehydrate. In this world full of packaged foods it is refreshing to see fresh fruits and water out on his soccer fields. It speaks to Seans dedication to the wellness of the whole child and the community. Thanks and Cleveland Heights is lucky to have him.
FANTASTIC!! How does one get ESPN's attention, by-the-way?? Well done, Sean! Well DONE!
The world needs more dedicated, honest, professional and caring people like Sean. It is such a great thing he does to dedicate so much of his time to the youth of the Cleveland area. Congratulations Sean!
Mr. Sullivan is awesome! He is the one who started me playing soccer, and I haven't stopped yet.
I am one of the moms that Sean coaches and I so look forward to our weekly training. Sean is a superior coach: he teaches skills that build upon one another in an intelligent way so that players have a better understanding of the play of the game. He is equal parts fun and studious dedication -- we thoroughly enjoy our training while improving our skills. Three cheers for Coach Sean!
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