Key Figures to Watch in 2026

The Enquirer is highlighting the most influential individuals in Greater Cincinnati for 2026. If you think someone was overlooked, reach out to Carl Weiser at cweiser@enquirer.com.

Joe Sullivan, 33, serves as the assistant athletic director for development at Xavier University. His role is crucial in securing financial support for Xavier Athletics, with a particular focus on men’s and women’s basketball.

College basketball has undergone significant changes since Sullivan was an undergraduate student at Xavier and later worked as a men’s basketball graduate assistant under Chris Mack. The landscape of college sports has evolved dramatically, especially with the introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and the transfer portal. These developments have created clear divisions between schools that can afford top-tier talent and those that cannot.

Sullivan is not directly involved in day-to-day operations like meal preparation or grocery shopping, but he plays a vital role in raising the necessary funds for Xavier to compete effectively. His efforts are part of a broader strategy to ensure the university can attract and retain top athletes.

“You can spend money. I think we have fans that want to help us win, we have the donors that want to help us win,” Sullivan explained. “We have the president, the athletic director, the head basketball coach, and the whole athletic department in lockstep. This is a place where I can make an impact.”

Who is Joe Sullivan?

Sullivan earned his master’s degree from Xavier in sports administration while serving as a graduate assistant for men’s basketball. He then pursued a career at Harvard, where he was the director of basketball operations for one season.

His path to his current role began when he reached out to his favorite college football team, Boston College, seeking an internship. He was offered a volunteer position, which eventually led to a full-time role in the personnel department. Sullivan worked his way up to become a football recruiting assistant and later the director of player personnel.

While exploring opportunities outside of personnel, he was advised to transition into development to eventually become an athletic director. After several years working in development at Boston College, a position at his alma mater opened up in October 2024, marking his second major career move.

“I love Xavier. It was a lot to move,” Sullivan said. “If you can help raise dollars, you can help win games. That’s what I care about. That’s what I think my purpose is − to help people in places I love achieve the things they want to achieve.”

Sullivan’s Goals for 2026

Fundraising is an ongoing process for all universities, and NIL has significantly transformed college athletics. For Sullivan, the primary objective for 2026 is straightforward: increase contributions to Xavier’s All for One Fund, which supports all 19 athletic programs, and expand the tracker inside the Cintas Center that shows how many people have donated to the Basketball Excellence Fund. As of December 17, there have been 467 donations.

“To find more individuals who want to get involved and help a place that really impacts the city. We need to keep finding those people,” Sullivan emphasized. “We’ve had great success recently in finding these donors. Their gifts are helping these student-athletes, helping our university, helping us win games and it’s been a great formula so far.”

A key message Sullivan aims to convey is that every donation directly benefits a team at Xavier. For instance, each person who donates $25 a month to the Basketball Excellence Fund receives a piece of a game-used net from Cintas Center. This gesture serves as a reminder that their contribution could one day help the team cut down nets after a championship.

“We all want to go to a Final Four, we all want to win a national championship, we all want to go to the (NCAA) tournament every year,” Sullivan said. “It takes an investment. I’m here to help us reach that investment.”