1999 Hall of Fame Inductee
An inspirational coach for 13 years at Jamaica (N.Y.) High School, Ellis moved to Princeton University in 1970 where he was head coach for 22 years. Among the star athletes he coached were Bob Beamon, former world record holder in the long jump, and Craig Masback, an outstanding miler/1500m runner who is now Chief Executive Officer of USATF. Under Ellis' tutelage, Princeton won 11 Heptagonal team titles in track plus another eight in cross country. He received Coach of the Year honors for 1981-82. In 1984, Ellis guided the men's Olympic team that included Carl Lewis, winner of four gold medals at the Los Angeles Games. He coached U.S. men's teams at four other international meets, including a squad that beat the Soviet Union in a memorable dual meet in 1978. He served USATF in many capacities and was the organization's president from 1992 to 1996. An outstanding middle distance runner at New York University, he was third in the 1951 NCAA 800m and in 1950 won the Canadian indoor 1000-yard title.
Coach