Ellis to Coach ECU Cornerbacks | Eastern North Carolina Now

Publisher's note: This post appears here courtesy of the news and information section for East Carolina University men's and women's sports.


    GREENVILLE, N.C.     Steve Ellis has been named cornerbacks coach at East Carolina University according to an announcement from head football coach Mike Houston.

    His appointment to the Pirates' staff extends a 17-year Division I coaching career which includes a recent assignment as defensive backs coach at American Athletic Conference foe South Florida, 10 seasons at Middle Tennessee State and six campaigns at alma mater Nicholls (La.) State.

    "We are excited to have someone with Steve's credentials and energy level in our program," Houston said. "While familiarity with our conference is certainly an added plus, his career experiences have been synonymous with development and success, and we are looking forward to the impact he will have on our young men."

    While working in Tampa under head coach Charlie Strong, Ellis played an integral role helping a Bulls' unit that stood among the Top 20 nationally in five statistical categories during the 2019 season - redzone defense (4th/67.4 percent), tackles for loss (5th/8.3 pg), fumbles recovered (10th/12), pass defense (15th/189.5 ypg) and turnovers gained (15th/24).

    Ellis was part of seven bowl appearances during his 10 years at MTSU while serving as cornerbacks coach (2009-2018), defensive coordinator (2011-14) and recruiting coordinator (2015-2018). He directly mentored five Blue Raiders who earned all-conference honors, including Marcus Udell and Alex Suber who, respectively, led the league in interceptions and accounted for 12 pass breakups in 2009.

    As defensive coordinator, he orchestrated an impressive turnaround as Middle Tennessee improved 48 spots in the national rankings in scoring defense, 29 in rush defense and 10 in total defense in 2012. A year later, the Blue Raiders stood fifth at the FBS level in turnovers gained and 17th in red zone defense. Ellis' last four years in Murfreesboro resulted in successive postseason showings at the Bahama Bowl (2015), Hawai'i Bowl (2016), Camellia Bowl (2017) and New Orleans Bowl (2018), the latter following a Conference USA East Division title and league championship game appearance.

    Ellis began his coaching career in 2003 at Nicholls State, first working with the safeties before assuming duties as linebackers coach (2004-05) and defensive coordinator (2006-08). After capturing the 2005 Southland Conference title, the 2006 Colonels ranked 19th nationally in total defense and his 2007 unit topped the league in interceptions, total and pass defense.

    During his six-year tenure in Thibodaux, Ellis directed the efforts of three FCS All-America selections, seven first-team all-conference performers, a conference player-of-the-year (third-round Baltimore Ravens draft pick Lardarius Webb), a defensive player-of-the-year (Kareem Moore) and two newcomer-of-the-year award winners.

    Ellis was also a two-time participant in the NFL Coaches Fellowship Program, learning from Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and legendary defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau in 2008 before enjoying a similar experience with the Buffalo Bills in 2010.

    He was a three-year starter, a three-year all-conference standout and team captain as a defensive back at NSU, wrapping up a playing career in 2002 with over 200 tackles and five interceptions before earning a bachelor's degree in education in 2003.

    Ellis, 40, and his wife Regina are the parents of three children - Caleb, Aubrey Grace and Ava Rose.
Go Back


Leave a Guest Comment

Your Name or Alias
Your Email Address ( your email address will not be published)
Enter Your Comment ( no code or urls allowed, text only please )




Carolina Panthers Daily Updates: 2/28/20 Football, East Carolina University, Sports ECU Drops Home Finale to UCONN


HbAD0

Latest Sports

NFL MVP Cam Newton appeared to be involved in a physical confrontation over the weekend and a 7-on-7 youth football camp.
Two adult males have been arrested and charged with murder in last week’s Kansas City parade shooting where one person was killed and 22 others were injured, Missouri prosecutors said on Tuesday.
Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce along with the Kansas City team donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to victims of the Super Bowl victory parade shooting, which left one person dead and 22 people injured.
The shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade on Wednesday that killed one person and injured more than 20 others appeared to stem from a personal dispute and had no connection to terrorism, according to the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department.
The College Football Playoff (CFP) Board of Managers announced on Tuesday that the College Football Playoff would expand from four teams to 12 teams starting this upcoming season.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes credited God with the team’s Super Bowl LVIII win after coming from behind to beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime on Sunday.

HbAD1

After a hard-fought but relatively low-scoring game, the Kansas City Chiefs came away with a 25-22 victory in Sunday’s Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.
Two minors have been charged in connection to the deadly shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade earlier this week, authorities announced on Friday.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce admitted to letting his emotions get the best of him during Sunday’s Super Bowl matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
The game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers became the most watched Super Bowl ever after bringing in more than 123 million viewers on Sunday.
Multiple people were shot and at least one was killed when gunfire erupted at a parade celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl win this week.
University of Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh, who led his team to a national championship victory over the Washington Huskies earlier this month, briefly addressed the crowd gathered for the 51st annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Friday.

HbAD2

Opening at 20-1 that the rookie from Clemson would score a TD, as he had in the regular season, da Bears' loving public steamed the wager down to 4-1 by kickoff.

HbAD3

 
Back to Top