News


Sun News (Myrtle Beach) – 08/30/07 –
Ellis already giving back to Grand Strand

Conway, S.C. -- Although he has just arrived, Coastal Carolina men's basketball coach Cliff Ellis is ready to give back.

Ellis took the podium prior to football coach David Bennett on Wednesday at Brooks Stadium not to address the departure of assistant coach Mike Boynton Jr., but rather to introduce The Cliff Ellis Foundation, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that is dedicated to supporting charitable causes.

"Wherever I have been, I have gotten a tremendous reward out of giving back to the community," Ellis said.

At Auburn, where Ellis was head coach from 1994-04, he and his wife started Partnership for Children, set up to help low-income, single moms pay for day care services.

Now on the Grand Strand, Ellis' foundation will target disadvantaged youth.

Ellis hopes to get a better understanding of what the exact needs of the community are on Oct. 11, when he will open the doors to the public to talk about needs of the community. The time and place have not yet been released. On the following day, the Chanticleers will open practice.
Ellis said Wednesday he will begin working to fill the loss of Boynton, though noting the late timing would not guarantee that his place would be filled.

Copyright 2007 The Sun News

 

USA Today – 07/05/07

Coastal Carolina hires ex-Clemson coach Cliff Ellis

CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — Cliff Ellis was hired as Coastal Carolina's basketball coach Monday, succeeding Buzz Peterson at a school that finished 15-15 last year.

Ellis, a former Auburn and Clemson coach, signed a five-year contract, the school said.

"What I see here is a tremendous opportunity," Ellis said. "I see the potential to have a vision where we can move forward."

Ellis said his past several years working as a television analyst gave him the chance to examine other teams' strategies, and that he was excited to get back to coaching at Coastal.

"What I want to do is make a difference," he said. "My vision is to take this program to the top."
Ellis was among five finalists for the job vacated last month by Peterson, who left the Chanticleers after two seasons to become player personnel director for the Charlotte Bobcats.

The 61-year-old Ellis has a Division I record of 534-337. His last coaching job ended in 2004 at Auburn, where he went 186-125. He spent 10 years at Clemson, leaving as the Tigers' winningest coach in 1994 with a record of 177-128. He had eight NCAA tournament appearances.