Ivory Ulysses Sully, III was born June 20, 1957 in rural Salisbury, Maryland. His father was a well respected physician in the community, and his mother was dedicated to raising Ivory and his three siblings-an older sister and two younger brothers. In 1967 his family relocated to Leonia, New Jersey where Ivory spent the remainder of his childhood. There at Leonia High School, he became immersed in sports with a passion to master all that he engaged in. By the time he graduated in 1975, he had a multitude of awards and trophies, including: All State Tennis Champion, All State Track Champion, Boy's State (New Jersey) Leadership Representative of Leonia H.S., Weringer Award for School's Best Athlete, and selected to the All Century Football Team by Bergen Record Newspaper.
Ivory chose to attend the University of Delaware based on the passion and drive of the football team being coached, at that time, by Tubby Raymond. A non-scholarship player, he lived out his dream of being a starting running back Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years. Highlights included: Being named ECAC Player of the Week, Sophomore and Junior Seasons; Member, Division II National Champion Runner-Up Team, Senior Year; Participant, Division II Playoff Games, Sophomore and Senior Year.
In 1979, Ivory graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Physical Education/Physical Therapy, with an emphasis in Athletic Training. He then left the East Coast to follow his dream of playing in the NFL. An undrafted free agent, he earned a spot with the Los Angeles Rams and went on to play as a defensive back for the remainder of his career. That first year, he played in Super Bowl XIV against the Pittsburgh Steelers, earning an NFC Championship Ring.
Throughout the course of his six year career with the Rams, he became the first “dollar-back” in the NFL-a position developed by legendary defensive coach, Bud Carson. He came to be known as the hardest hitting defensive back of his time, gaining the nickname “Mr. Hit”. Additional distinctions include: selected Co-Captain from 1982-1983, Special Teams Captain in 1984, Pro-Bowl Alternate in 1984. He participated in the playoffs in 1979, 1980, 1983, and 1984. One of his most significant duties on the team was as Player Representative, as selected by his teammates, for the NFL Player’s Association Union 1981-1984. That position included negotiating the 1982 Collective Bargaining Agreement with Ed Garvey, Gene Upshaw, and representatives from 27 other teams.
In 1985, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave up the 7th Round draft choice of the 1985 draft to secure Ivory on their team. Ivory played with the Buccaneers for two seasons as a starting defensive back.
In 1987, Ivory played his final season with the Detroit Lions as a starting defensive back. It was there he missed his first game in 9 years, due to a shoulder injury. On the very last tackle of his playing career, he forced a fumble that was recovered by the Lions, who went on to win that game.
Following a successful 9 year NFL career, Ivory Sully transitioned seamlessly into the fashion apparel industry as an entrepreneur and business owner. An expert in all facets of fashion design, marketing, licensing, sales, and public relations, he knows what it takes to make a corporation successful. As owner of Sully Executive Services, Ivory facilitates corporate growth through team building, motivational speaking engagements, mentor leadership, plus global brand expansion through licensing and contract negotiations, and corporate development at the executive level.
Ivory has always sought opportunities to be involved in the community and being a role model is what drove him to volunteer with Servite High School in 2009, where he began coaching linebackers part-time. The Friars went on to win two CIF Southern Section State Pac 5 Championships in a row and the CIF Division 1 State Championship in 2009. In 2012, Ivory was hired full time to be the Assistant Head Coach and Director of Football Relations. When head coach Troy Thomas left Servite in 2013, Ivory returned his attention to Sully Executive Services full time. He continues to pursue his passion for football whenever possible by participating in day camps, appearance opportunities, and part-time coaching.
Previous outreach programs include: 3 years where he was the Camp Director for the Mescalero Apache Tribe Sports Camp; Native Vision Sports & Life Skills Camp at the Navajo Reservation in Shiprock, New Mexico; Turning Leaf Seminars where he has been a guest speaker as well as a facilitator.
His most honoring recognition came in 2009 when Ivory was inducted into the University of Delaware Sports Hall of Fame.
Ivory resides in Orange County, California, with his wife and their children.
Ivory chose to attend the University of Delaware based on the passion and drive of the football team being coached, at that time, by Tubby Raymond. A non-scholarship player, he lived out his dream of being a starting running back Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years. Highlights included: Being named ECAC Player of the Week, Sophomore and Junior Seasons; Member, Division II National Champion Runner-Up Team, Senior Year; Participant, Division II Playoff Games, Sophomore and Senior Year.
In 1979, Ivory graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Physical Education/Physical Therapy, with an emphasis in Athletic Training. He then left the East Coast to follow his dream of playing in the NFL. An undrafted free agent, he earned a spot with the Los Angeles Rams and went on to play as a defensive back for the remainder of his career. That first year, he played in Super Bowl XIV against the Pittsburgh Steelers, earning an NFC Championship Ring.
Throughout the course of his six year career with the Rams, he became the first “dollar-back” in the NFL-a position developed by legendary defensive coach, Bud Carson. He came to be known as the hardest hitting defensive back of his time, gaining the nickname “Mr. Hit”. Additional distinctions include: selected Co-Captain from 1982-1983, Special Teams Captain in 1984, Pro-Bowl Alternate in 1984. He participated in the playoffs in 1979, 1980, 1983, and 1984. One of his most significant duties on the team was as Player Representative, as selected by his teammates, for the NFL Player’s Association Union 1981-1984. That position included negotiating the 1982 Collective Bargaining Agreement with Ed Garvey, Gene Upshaw, and representatives from 27 other teams.
In 1985, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave up the 7th Round draft choice of the 1985 draft to secure Ivory on their team. Ivory played with the Buccaneers for two seasons as a starting defensive back.
In 1987, Ivory played his final season with the Detroit Lions as a starting defensive back. It was there he missed his first game in 9 years, due to a shoulder injury. On the very last tackle of his playing career, he forced a fumble that was recovered by the Lions, who went on to win that game.
Following a successful 9 year NFL career, Ivory Sully transitioned seamlessly into the fashion apparel industry as an entrepreneur and business owner. An expert in all facets of fashion design, marketing, licensing, sales, and public relations, he knows what it takes to make a corporation successful. As owner of Sully Executive Services, Ivory facilitates corporate growth through team building, motivational speaking engagements, mentor leadership, plus global brand expansion through licensing and contract negotiations, and corporate development at the executive level.
Ivory has always sought opportunities to be involved in the community and being a role model is what drove him to volunteer with Servite High School in 2009, where he began coaching linebackers part-time. The Friars went on to win two CIF Southern Section State Pac 5 Championships in a row and the CIF Division 1 State Championship in 2009. In 2012, Ivory was hired full time to be the Assistant Head Coach and Director of Football Relations. When head coach Troy Thomas left Servite in 2013, Ivory returned his attention to Sully Executive Services full time. He continues to pursue his passion for football whenever possible by participating in day camps, appearance opportunities, and part-time coaching.
Previous outreach programs include: 3 years where he was the Camp Director for the Mescalero Apache Tribe Sports Camp; Native Vision Sports & Life Skills Camp at the Navajo Reservation in Shiprock, New Mexico; Turning Leaf Seminars where he has been a guest speaker as well as a facilitator.
His most honoring recognition came in 2009 when Ivory was inducted into the University of Delaware Sports Hall of Fame.
Ivory resides in Orange County, California, with his wife and their children.