In 1988, Sutton graduated from James Madison University where he played three years of varsity basketball and lettered each season.
High school coaching
Sutton coached at five nationally ranked high school programs—Flint Hill Prep (1988–1990), Harker Prep (1990–1992), St. John's Prospect Hall (1992–1998), Montrose Christian and Montverde Academy (2004–2011)—amassing a 489–102 record and winning two national championships. In 1998, he was the associate head coach on the USA Today Super 25 National Championship team and in 2007, he was the head coach of the Montverde Academy Hoops.Com National Championship team led by future NBA player Solomon Alabi.
While at Montverde Academy, Sutton's program was labeled a "basketball factory" by the Orlando Sentinel.[3] Sutton coached seven nationally ranked teams and compiled a 186-33 record, while turning out 55 Division I scholarship athletes and three All-America selections. During his final two seasons at Montverde, Sutton was assisted by former NBA player Andrew DeClercq, Matthew Wheeler and hip-hop artist Dorian.[4][5]
Sutton has also been selected as a coach for USA Basketball on three occasions. He was an assistant coach at the Hoop Festival for the East team, had a two-year stint with the Junior Developmental Team (U16), which won a gold medal at the FIBA Americas Tournament in Argentina, and he was the head coach for the Nike/USA Basketball Hoop Summit, a game showcasing the top 10 international players against the top 10 American players.[10] Led by Austin Rivers and Anthony Davis, Sutton's Team USA beat the World Team 92-80.[11]
Personal life
Sutton and his wife, Beth, have four children, Aaron, Kayleigh, Isaiah and Rileigh.[12]