Rich Ellerson
Encyclopedia
Rich Ellerson is an American football
coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the United States Military Academy
, a position he has held since the 2009 season. Ellerson served as the head football at Southern Utah University
in 1996 and at California Polytechnic State University
from 2001 to 2008. While at Cal Poly, Ellerson's teams secured three conference championships and compiled a 56–34 record, to make him the third winningest coach in school history.
in Tucson, Arizona
. On 28 September 2002, he was inducted into the Salpointe Catholic High School Sports Hall of Fame. He received a congressional appointment to the United States Naval Academy
, which he attended for his freshmen year of 1972–73. He subsequently attended the University of Hawaii
between 1974 and 1977 where he played for the Hawaii football team
as a center
and linebacker
.
.
From 1992 to 1995, he served at Arizona
as an assistant head coach and defensive line coach, working alongside with defensive coordinator
Larry MacDuff. During his entire four year tenure, Arizona was ranked as a top-ten team in total defense and was the number-two defense against the rush
in 1992 and 1993. He also worked with special teams, and helped mentor placekicker Steve McLaughlin
to a Lou Groza Award
-winning season in 1994.
In 1996, Ellerson served as the head coach at Southern Utah, where he oversaw an improvement to a record of 4–7 from 2–9 the previous season. That year, Southern Utah was the leading the NCAA Division I-AA (now Division I FCS) team in rushing offense.
He returned to Arizona from 1997 to 2000 as the defensive coordinator and kickers coach. In his final season there, he coached the Wildcats to become the eighth-ranked rush defense in the nation allowing just 88.5 yards per game on average. Arizona also led the Pac-10 Conference in rush defense and was second in total defense allowing 317.5 yards per game and turnovers recovered with 33.
(Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo, California
. While at Cal Poly, Ellerson led the Mustangs to a 52–38 record during his eight year tenure. With a winning percentage
of .622, he currently ranks as the third most successful coach in school history.
During his first year, Ellerson led Cal Poly to their first winning season in four years, finishing with a 6–5 record. In 2003, Ellerson was named NCAA Division I-AA Coach of the Year. He led the Mustangs to a winning 7–4 record and a national ranking as high as 14th during the season. In 2004, he was named the Great West Football Conference
Coach of the Year and AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year. He led Cal Poly-SLO to secure the Great West championship. In 2005, Cal Poly finished with a 9–4 record and earned its first playoff berth in 12 years. They were defeated by Texas State in the quarterfinals. The Mustangs recorded a 6–0 record at home. The Mustangs narrowly missed qualifying for the 2006 playoffs. In 2007, Cal Poly achieved a 7–4 record and third place in the Great West. The Mustangs finished the season with a #24 final ranking.
Under Ellerson, Cal Poly employed a triple-option offense
, similar to the ones traditionally used at the service academies.
's head coach, Ty Willingham. However, he instead accepted an offer to become Army's head coach in December 2008.
According to media speculation, other potential candidates for the vacant Army head coaching position included: Mike Sullivan
, a West Pointer and wide receivers coach for the New York Giants
; Greg Gregory, South Florida
offensive coordinator and former Army assistant coach; Charlie Taaffe
, former Maryland
offensive coordinator, Canadian Football League
coach, and Army offensive coordinator; and Ed Warriner, Kansas
offensive coordinator who spent 13 years as an Army assistant coach. Army also gauged the interest of both Navy's offensive and defensive coordinator, Ivin Jasper and Buddy Green, respectively.
Ellerson has several family ties to the Academy. His father and two of his brothers attended West Point. His brother, John, was a captain of the Army football team while at West Point from 1960 to 1963. Rich Ellerson said, "I grew up with that special connection to Army Football. At that age, watching my big brother captain the Army football team, living on Army posts, it was just the biggest thing in our life. It was the foundation of my football experience, not just my Army football experience, and obviously, football is a big part of my life."
He also said: "More than any other place in America, this is an important job. This is the United States Military Academy. We're playing football. We need to be good at this. We need to be. Everybody wants to win. We need to." He also expressed a belief in the importance in working with recruits at the United States Military Academy Preparatory School (USMAPS) in order to improve the pool of candidates for the varsity team.
Ellerson also referred offhandedly to Navy, in comparing the type of offensive scheme he plans on bringing to Army. "I'm a triple option guy, and our triple option looks similar to some other team that we see every once in awhile, but it is not exactly alike ... What we do fits well with the Academy at every level."
In his first season at the helm Ellerson's team showed very positive signs of improvement. The team finished the season with a 5–7 record. Going into the final game of the season against Navy a win would have placed Army in the EagleBank Bowl, their first bowl berth since the 1996 Independence Bowl
. They would lose to rival Navy by a score of 17–3. Again, a vast improvement considering losses of 34–0 in 2008 and 38–3 in 2007. In his second season, Ellerson continues to turnaround the Army football program. In 2010 he led Army to a 7–6 record, its first winning season since 1996 and also an invitation and victory in the 2010 Armed Forces Bowl
, the program's first bowl win since 1985. The progress had Ellerson as one of the ten finalists for the 2010 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
, a position he has held since the 2009 season. Ellerson served as the head football at Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University, or SUU, is located in Cedar City, Utah. It was founded in 1897 as an extension of the Agricultural College of Utah, by the citizens of Cedar City.During its history, the school has been known as:...
in 1996 and at California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system....
from 2001 to 2008. While at Cal Poly, Ellerson's teams secured three conference championships and compiled a 56–34 record, to make him the third winningest coach in school history.
Early years
Ellerson attended Salpointe Catholic High SchoolSalpointe Catholic High School
Salpointe Catholic High School is a co-ed Catholic high school in Tucson, Arizona, run by the Carmelite Order. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson.-Founding and early development:...
in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
. On 28 September 2002, he was inducted into the Salpointe Catholic High School Sports Hall of Fame. He received a congressional appointment to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, which he attended for his freshmen year of 1972–73. He subsequently attended the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
between 1974 and 1977 where he played for the Hawaii football team
Hawaii Warriors football
The Hawaii Warriors football team represents the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team, which is currently coached by Greg McMackin, is part of the Western Athletic Conference until 2012, when the team joins the Mountain West Conference.The Hawaii Warriors...
as a center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
.
Early coaching positions
After graduating college in 1977, he served as a Hawaii graduate assistant under head coach Dick TomeyDick Tomey
-External links:* *...
.
From 1992 to 1995, he served at Arizona
Arizona Wildcats football
The Arizona Wildcats football team is the football team of the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level.-Early years:...
as an assistant head coach and defensive line coach, working alongside with defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
Larry MacDuff. During his entire four year tenure, Arizona was ranked as a top-ten team in total defense and was the number-two defense against the rush
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
in 1992 and 1993. He also worked with special teams, and helped mentor placekicker Steve McLaughlin
Steve McLaughlin
Steve McLaughlin is a former American football player.-References:...
to a Lou Groza Award
Lou Groza Award
The Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the top college football placekicker in the United States by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The award is named after former Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns player Lou Groza.-Winners:...
-winning season in 1994.
In 1996, Ellerson served as the head coach at Southern Utah, where he oversaw an improvement to a record of 4–7 from 2–9 the previous season. That year, Southern Utah was the leading the NCAA Division I-AA (now Division I FCS) team in rushing offense.
He returned to Arizona from 1997 to 2000 as the defensive coordinator and kickers coach. In his final season there, he coached the Wildcats to become the eighth-ranked rush defense in the nation allowing just 88.5 yards per game on average. Arizona also led the Pac-10 Conference in rush defense and was second in total defense allowing 317.5 yards per game and turnovers recovered with 33.
Cal Poly
In 2001, Ellerson took over as the head coach at the California Polytechnic State UniversityCalifornia Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system....
(Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo, California
San Luis Obispo, California
San Luis Obispo is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. Founded in 1772 by Spanish Fr. Junipero Serra, San Luis Obispo is one of California’s oldest communities...
. While at Cal Poly, Ellerson led the Mustangs to a 52–38 record during his eight year tenure. With a winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
of .622, he currently ranks as the third most successful coach in school history.
During his first year, Ellerson led Cal Poly to their first winning season in four years, finishing with a 6–5 record. In 2003, Ellerson was named NCAA Division I-AA Coach of the Year. He led the Mustangs to a winning 7–4 record and a national ranking as high as 14th during the season. In 2004, he was named the Great West Football Conference
Great West Football Conference
The Great West Conference is an NCAA college athletic conference in the continental United States. Formerly a football-only conference, in 2008 it became an all-sports conference...
Coach of the Year and AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year. He led Cal Poly-SLO to secure the Great West championship. In 2005, Cal Poly finished with a 9–4 record and earned its first playoff berth in 12 years. They were defeated by Texas State in the quarterfinals. The Mustangs recorded a 6–0 record at home. The Mustangs narrowly missed qualifying for the 2006 playoffs. In 2007, Cal Poly achieved a 7–4 record and third place in the Great West. The Mustangs finished the season with a #24 final ranking.
Under Ellerson, Cal Poly employed a triple-option offense
Option offense
The option offense is a generic term that is used to describe a wide variety of offensive systems in American football. Option offenses are characterized as such due to the predominance of option running plays employed in these schemes. Option offenses have traditionally relied heavily upon running...
, similar to the ones traditionally used at the service academies.
Army
In 2008 it was speculated he was a candidate to replace WashingtonWashington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
's head coach, Ty Willingham. However, he instead accepted an offer to become Army's head coach in December 2008.
According to media speculation, other potential candidates for the vacant Army head coaching position included: Mike Sullivan
Mike Sullivan (American football)
Mike Sullivan is the current quarterbacks coach for the New York Giants, a position he has held since 2010. Previously he served six years coaching their wide receivers.-Career:...
, a West Pointer and wide receivers coach for the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
; Greg Gregory, South Florida
South Florida Bulls football
The South Florida Bulls are a Division I FBS college football program that plays its home games in Tampa, Florida. The team began playing in 1997, holding its first team meeting under a shade tree as the school had no proper football facilities on campus...
offensive coordinator and former Army assistant coach; Charlie Taaffe
Charlie Taaffe
Charlie Taaffe is an American football coach. He currently serves as offensive coordinator for the UCF Knights. Taaffe's coaching career stretches back to 1973, when he was an offensive coach for the University at Albany...
, former Maryland
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
offensive coordinator, Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
coach, and Army offensive coordinator; and Ed Warriner, Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks football
The Kansas Jayhawks football program is the intercollegiate football program of the University of Kansas Jayhawks. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference....
offensive coordinator who spent 13 years as an Army assistant coach. Army also gauged the interest of both Navy's offensive and defensive coordinator, Ivin Jasper and Buddy Green, respectively.
Ellerson has several family ties to the Academy. His father and two of his brothers attended West Point. His brother, John, was a captain of the Army football team while at West Point from 1960 to 1963. Rich Ellerson said, "I grew up with that special connection to Army Football. At that age, watching my big brother captain the Army football team, living on Army posts, it was just the biggest thing in our life. It was the foundation of my football experience, not just my Army football experience, and obviously, football is a big part of my life."
He also said: "More than any other place in America, this is an important job. This is the United States Military Academy. We're playing football. We need to be good at this. We need to be. Everybody wants to win. We need to." He also expressed a belief in the importance in working with recruits at the United States Military Academy Preparatory School (USMAPS) in order to improve the pool of candidates for the varsity team.
Ellerson also referred offhandedly to Navy, in comparing the type of offensive scheme he plans on bringing to Army. "I'm a triple option guy, and our triple option looks similar to some other team that we see every once in awhile, but it is not exactly alike ... What we do fits well with the Academy at every level."
In his first season at the helm Ellerson's team showed very positive signs of improvement. The team finished the season with a 5–7 record. Going into the final game of the season against Navy a win would have placed Army in the EagleBank Bowl, their first bowl berth since the 1996 Independence Bowl
Independence Bowl
The Independence Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game that is played annually at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, so named because it was inaugurated in the United States bicentennial year, 1976....
. They would lose to rival Navy by a score of 17–3. Again, a vast improvement considering losses of 34–0 in 2008 and 38–3 in 2007. In his second season, Ellerson continues to turnaround the Army football program. In 2010 he led Army to a 7–6 record, its first winning season since 1996 and also an invitation and victory in the 2010 Armed Forces Bowl
2010 Armed Forces Bowl
The 2010 Armed Forces Bowl was the eighth edition of the college football bowl game, and the first of two editions to be played at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on the campus of Southern Methodist University in the Dallas enclave of University Park, Texas. From the bowl's inception as the Fort Worth Bowl...
, the program's first bowl win since 1985. The progress had Ellerson as one of the ten finalists for the 2010 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year.