Sept. 15, 2004
On Saturday, Sept. 18, 2004, Villanova University will honor Wildcat track & field great Marcus O'Sullivan during a halftime ceremony of Villanova's football game with James Madison University. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.
O'Sullivan will join a list of 22 men's track & field legends that currently make up the distinguished group of honorees on the Wall of Fame. A plaque in the shape of a winged track shoe, bearing O'Sullivan's name, will now be permanently displayed on the wall of the Pavilion next to the scoreboard in the west end of Villanova Stadium.
A native of Cork, Ireland, O'Sullivan has been a storied figure in Villanova's track & field history as both a student-athlete and coach, beginning with his collegiate career that spanned 1980-84.
Running under the guidance of the legendary Jumbo Elliott for one season and Charlie Jenkins for three years, O'Sullivan established himself as one of Villanova's all-time great performers garnering four varsity letters each in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track.
Throughout his Main Line running career, O'Sullivan captured two NCAA indoor titles, 10 Big East Conference indoor and outdoor titles, two IC4A indoor championships and six Penn Relay Carnival Championship of America watches. In Big East Conference Championships, O'Sullivan posted five first place finishes including the 1981 indoor 1500 meters, both the 1983 cross country crown and indoor 1500 meters and the indoor 1500 meters and outdoor 5000 meters in 1984. He also registered two second place finishes during the 1982 season in both the indoor 800 meters and the outdoor 1500 meters. At the 1981 Big East Conference Indoor Championships, O'Sullivan was named the meet's Most Outstanding Freshman Performer.
O'Sullivan also made his mark at the famous Penn Relay Carnival where he earned six Championship of America watches during his illustrious career. His shining moment at the Penn Relays came in 1984 when he ran a relay record 1500 meter split of 3:38.7 during the anchor leg of Villanova's 6000 meter relay squad that finished first in a national collegiate and meet record time of 14:52.81. In 1982, he ran the leadoff leg on the Wildcats' 3200 meter relay that finished first in a national collegiate and meet record time of 7:12.29.
Upon graduation from Villanova, O'Sullivan went on to enjoy an outstanding international career that included appearances in four Olympic Games for his native country of Ireland. He competed in the 800m and 1500m in Los Angeles in 1984, was a finalist in the 1500m in Seoul in 1988 and raced in the 1500m at Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996. His career highlights include three World Indoor Championships in the 1500m in 1987, 1989 and 1993, as well as a world record in the indoor 1500m (3:35.4) in 1989. This 1500m time, along with his best indoor mile of 3:50.9, remain among the five-best performances ever in those events indoors.
At the prestigious Millrose Games held at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 13, 1998, O'Sullivan ran a sub-4:00 mile for the 100th time in his illustrious career, becoming just the third runner in history to accomplish this feat. With 101 sub-4:00 miles to his credit, O'Sullivan ranks third all-time behind Steve Scott and John Walker.
O'Sullivan returned to Villanova University as head coach on June 22, 1998, marking a new era in Villanova Track & Field. He immediately began making his mark as a coach upon his return to the Main Line. His appointment at Villanova rated as his first within the collegiate coaching ranks.
Now beginning his seventh year at the helm of the Wildcat program in 2004-05, O'Sullivan has returned Villanova to prominence on the conference level and on the national scene as well.
Last season, in 2003-04, O'Sullivan continued to guide the Villanova program to success on the conference and on the national levels. Senior Jon Fasulo won the Big East Cross Country individual championship, helping lead the Wildcats to a 3rd place finish. The `Cats would go on to take the NCAA Division I Mid-Atlantic Regional title, and finish 11th at the NCAA Championships. O'Sullivan was named the Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season.
On the track front, the Villanova men had similar success in 2003-04. In the indoor season, the `Cats finished sixth at Big East Championships, thanks in part to Big East titles by Carlos Bedoya (in the 200m) and the Villanova DMR squad. During the outdoor season, Tom Parlapiano and Drew Eckman each won Big East titles, guiding Villanova to a seventh place finish. Parlapiano then finished 11th in the 1,500m run at NCAA Championships.
The 2002-03 campaign was a special one for the program. O'Sullivan led the Wildcats to the 2002 BIG EAST cross country title - the program's first since 1993. For his efforts, he was named the Big East Conference Coach of the Year. He also earned Regional Coach of the Year distinction (for the second straight season `01 and `02) after guiding his team to consecutive regional team championships.
At the 2003 BIG EAST Indoor Championships, O'Sullivan helped guide the DMR team to a conference championship. Later in the indoor season at the NCAA Championships, the DMR squad garnered its second consecutive national title and helped the Wildcats to a fifth place overall finish.
On the track in 2002, O'Sullivan led the Wildcats to a second place finish at the Big East outdoor championships. In addition, Villanova garnered a fifth place finish at the 2002 NCAA indoor championships.
O'Sullivan graduated from Villanova in 1984 with a degree in accounting and went on to earn his MBA from Villanova in 1989. After passing the CPA exam, O'Sullivan served as a part-time faculty member of the Villanova Marketing Department from 1992-93. O'Sullivan's wife, the former Mary Spinks, earned a nursing degree from Villanova in 1986. The couple has two children, Laura (15), and Christopher (12).
