ChaChi Sullivan
Athletics Counselor
Like many talented, young athletes, when ChaChi Sullivan headed to South Carolina State University to play football, his four-year plan was to play in the NFL. When that didn’t work out, his coach, who he says was like a father figure to him, convinced him to stay in school and get a master’s degree on top of his undergrad degree in kinesiology. A chance meeting with a professor led ChaChi to join the master’s program in counseling at the University of South Carolina. “I absolutely fell in love with it,” says ChaChi. At the time, he was also coaching football as a graduate assistant and had opportunities with several college programs and did an internship with the Carolina Panthers.
"But I found my real passion in counseling, and I spent 15 years in community-based adolescent programs, such as group homes. It’s tough work, but important work."
In recognition of the growing mental health issues affecting today’s children—nationally and right here at Country Day—ChaChi was hired this past school year for a newly created counseling position specifically for athletics. His background helps him to connect with both coaches and athletes.
ChaChi SullivanAthletics Counselor
As athletes mature, the improvement becomes less and less physical and more about mental head space."