While at Cornell, he joined Sigma Chi fraternity and was a member of the 1949 national champion lightweight crew,[2] serving as captain in 1950.

After graduation he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, and served as an infantry officer during the Korean War.

[4] Ullrich returned to Cornell as the freshman crew coach in 1955,[5] before taking over the varsity team at Columbia University in 1960.

[9] Ullrich arrived at West Point in 1980, making his mark on the Army football program two years later with the hiring of head coach Jim Young.

[10] Under Young's wishbone system, the Black Knights returned to relevance, turning in six winning seasons, capturing the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy three times, and reaching the first three bowls in Army football history.