2. Bundesliga club SSV Ulm 1846 hired Gerland on 31 October 2000 for the remainder of the season. The club was in 13th place when he took over as manager. Although hired on 31 October, Peter Assion managed the 2–0 German Cup win against Energie Cottbus on 1 November 2000 and made his debut in the 3–1 win against Alemannia Aachen on 5 November 2000. Ulm sacked Gerland on 21 March 2001. His final match was a 3–1 loss against Rot-Weiß Oberhausen on 17 March 2001. At the time of his sacking, Ulm was in the relegation zone at 16th place.