Allan Sharp was born in Covington, Kentucky and later moved to Portsmouth, Virginia where he played varsity basketball at Woodrow Wilson High School.

In 1945 he entered Lynchburg College where he started on the basketball team as a freshman. He played two years at Lynchburg College and was recognized as one of the five outstanding intramural athletes there in 1946. In 1949 he entered Lynchburg Theological Seminary and continued to be very involved in sports. He became a registered basketball official and worked as athletic director and basketball coach at Sayse School in Lexington, Kentucky from 1949-1952.

After graduation from Lexington Theological Seminary in 1952, Sharp began his career at Barton College. He attained a doctoral degree from Duke University in 1963. Sharp served as President of Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAC) on three different occasions, and has been honored by the league for his years of service.

Sharp lives in Wilson, and is the pastor of Dudley Christian Church, a position he has held for four decades. He is married to the former Ava Glyn High. They have three children and eight grandchildren.