As a four-year starter at Iowa State from 2000 to 2004, he became one of the most popular players to don a Cyclones jersey in recent history. Now, still in Ames, Jake Sullivan has already conquered the “real world,” and is passionately enjoying life’s simple pleasures.

Sullivan graduated from Iowa State with a degree in psychology in 2004. That same year, in May, he was married to his college girlfriend Janel.

Janel initially thought Jake was a “bad boy” when she met him their freshman year in Larch Hall. She said she based it off his image, and that’s what she was first drawn to in him.

But she eventually found out the truth.

“Jake is very giving, he tells me loves me at least 10 times a day,” Janel said. “He’s fairly open, which is always good in a relationship, and he’s always been very loving and affectionate. He’s just like a big teddy bear.”

Along with his wife and former Cyclone football player Todd Miller, Jake currently runs a youth Amateur Athletic Union basketball program out of Ames called the All Iowa Attack.

“After college we didn’t know what we were going to do. I’m most proud that he’s doing what he loves with basketball,” Janel said. “It’s great to have a husband that loves what they do. He’s energetic and passionate, and we always have stuff to talk about in the evening when he gets home from work.”

The Attack was originally the idea of a man who Jake proclaimed as his greatest influence since graduating from Iowa State – Dickson Jensen.

“Dickson has had a big influence on my life,” Jake said. “He’s helped me a ton, especially with my walk with Christ, and on the business side of life.”

Jake met Jensen through church, and that’s when Jensen asked him to coach.

“Dickson asked me to help him out by coaching his son’s and daughter’s team,” Jake said. “One thing led to another and I’m working full time with the Attack and am very happy with what I’m doing.”

Jake’s passion isn’t newfound; he’s always been that way, especially in his college days. As a four-year starter for the Cyclones, Jake received many accolades.

He was a three-time First Team Academic All-Conference selection, Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2000, Third-Team All Big 12 in 2002, and holds a handful of shooting records in the ISU record books.

“Jake was a very tough and gritty player. He always wanted to take the last shot, and he played the game the right way,” Miller said. “He was a gym-rat; you could go to the Rec at 3, come back at 6, and he’d still be there.”

Being a competitor, Jake considered prolonging his playing career after Iowa State, but injuries took him down a different path.

“I definitely considered playing more,” Jake said. “I had three ankle surgeries at ISU though, one of them right after my senior year. Then the All Iowa Attack came along and I decided to take my life in a different direction. It’s a great opportunity for me to remain competitive, although it’s not the same as actually playing.”

Jake has completely given up his playing days of high school, where he played in Oakdale, Minn., and college, and has aimed his skills to helping the next generation learn the game he once excelled at.

The All Iowa Attack has been a perfect situation for Jake to spread his knowledge, and to be a role model for everyone he comes into contact with.

“Being a college player, you get used to competing,” Jake said. “I’ve learned to channel my competitiveness in other aspects of my life.”

Miller elaborated on Jake’s competitiveness.

“I would say he’s changed to the point where he no longer wants to showcase his skills, but instead he wants to give knowledge to kids around the state and the country,” Miller said. “He instills being a good role model on and off the court.”

Jensen, a self-proclaimed “huge sports fan,” knew Jake would be a right fit to head up his Attack program.

“Jake’s hard working, honest, has integrity and is very determined to accomplish tasks,” Jensen said.

“He was perfect. With his knowledge of the game and the way he handles kids and situations, that’s a lot of social stuff that he’s good at. Also, everybody knows him, and why wouldn’t you want to play for him.”

Amanda Zimmerman is a future Cyclone player and one of Jake’s players on the 16-and-under girls’ Attack team.

“He has really good experience, and he knows our point of view from when he was younger,” Zimmerman said. “He knows how to communicate with us; he’s a great friend of the family and a great person.”

Not only does Jake have his players on the court to deal with, but at home he has a pretty life-sized responsibility as well.

Jake and his wife have a 7-month-old son named JJ. The name was given to him in attribution to his parent’s names, Jake and Janel.

Jake has put his psychology education to the test and decided to use the authoritative parenting style with his son, at least according to Janel.

“He definitely has his ideas of how he wants JJ to be raised. He likes to work with JJ on his motor skills, and he wants it to be easy for JJ to communicate with him when he’s older,” Janel said.

Jake’s successes in life can undoubtedly be traced back to his brain and his genuine kindness and caring toward all people he comes into contact with.

“He’s gonna be very successful in life,” Jensen said. “You can tell after young people graduate from college how successful they will become. He will be successful no matter what he pursues.”