Steve Ellis - Football Coach - Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

Steve Ellis

Title:
Co-Defensive Coordinator
Email:
steve.ellis@mtsu.edu
Phone:
898-2926

Steve Ellis, 10th season at Middle Tennessee
Recruiting Coordinator/Cornerbacks
Steve Ellis is in his 10th season on Rick Stockstill’s staff and his fourth as recruiting coordinator. Ellis is coaching the cornerbacks for the 10th straight year.

Personal
• Birthdate: Jan. 25, 1980
• Hometown: Stringer, Miss.
• Wife: Regina
• Children: Deja and Caleb

Education
• High School: Stringer HS, 1998
• College: Nicholls State, B.S. in Education, 2003

Playing Experience (CB)
• Nicholls State (1998-2002)
• A three-year starter who was all-conference all three years
• Team captain in 2001 and had over 200 career tackles and five interceptions

Bowl Experience
• 2009: New Orleans Bowl (coach)
• 2011: GoDaddy.com Bowl (coach)
• 2013: Armed Forces Bowl (coach)
• 2015: Popeyes Bahamas Bowl (coach)
• 2016: Hawaii Bowl (coach)
• 2017: Camellia Bowl (coach)
• 2018: R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (coach)

COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
At Middle Tennessee, cornerbacks (2009-present) co-defensive coordinator (2012-14), recruiting coordinator (2015-present)
• Date Hired: Feb. 9, 2009
• Recruiting Area: Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee
• Coached all-conference players Marcus Udell, Alex Suber, Rod Issac, Jeremy Cutrer and Darryl Randolph
• In 2017, Charvarius Ward and Mike Minter Jr. ranked fourth and sixth, respectively, in C-USA in passes defended. Both went on to play in postseason all-star games
• Staffed a defensive unit in 2013 that ranked among the nation’s best for total defense, while ranking fifth in turnovers gained and 17th in red zone defense
• 2012 defensive unit improved 48 spots in the national rankings in scoring defense, 29 spots in rushing defense and 10 in total defense
• In 2009, Marcus Udell led the league in interceptions while Alex Suber accounted for 12 pass breakups
• During the summer of 2010, Ellis participated in the NFL Coaches Fellowship Program for the second time with the Buffalo Bills

At Nicholls State, safeties (2003) linebackers (2004-05) defensive coordinator (2006-08), 2003-10
• Led a defense that ranked first in the Southland Conference in total defense, pass defense and interceptions in 2007
• Finished the 2006 season ranked No. 19 in the country in total defense
• In six seasons at Nicholls, Ellis’ players won seven first team all-conference honors, four National Player of the Week awards, three All-American honors, and two conference Newcomer of the Year awards and a defensive player of the year accolade
• During the summer of 2008, Ellis participated in the NFL Coaches Fellowship Program with the Pittsburgh Steelers under Head Coach Mike Tomlin. He worked with the secondary under legendary defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau.

COACHING EXPERIENCE:
• 2003: Nicholls State (safeties)
• 2004-05: Nicholls State (linebackers)
• 2006-08: Nicholls State (defensive coordinator)
• 2009-10: Middle Tennessee (cornerbacks)
• 2011: Middle Tennessee (defensive coordinator/cornerbacks)
• 2012-14: Middle Tennessee (co-defensive coordinator/cornerbacks)
• 2015-present: Middle Tennessee (cornerbacks/recruiting coordinator)