See Coach Ellis' MBCA Hall of Fame InductionChris Ellis begins his 15th season as head coach of Maryville's women's basketball program. In 2011-12, he guided the program to the school's first Great Lakes Valley Conference championship as the Saints stormed to the 2012 Tournament title and the school's first NCAA Tournament bid as a member of Division II. In April 2012, Ellis was inducted into the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
The Saints nearly repeated as GLVC champions as they advanced to the 2013 GLVC Championship game before seeing their run end in the title contest. In fact, the Saints have reached the championship game of the last three GLVC Tournaments as they again reached the GLVC Tournament finals in 2014.
Ellis has compiled an 244-145 overall record in his first 14 seasons with the Saints. He was recognized by the WBCA for surpassing the 500 career win mark with Maryville's victory against Eureka College on Feb. 14, 2009, and has a lifetime record of 598-254 in 30 seasons.
He was named St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Coach of the Year for four consecutive years, while leading his squad to four consecutive undefeated seasons in conference play. The Saints have made six NCAA Division III Tournament appearances under Ellis' reign, and they became the first team in school history to make the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2005-06.
The Saints set the NCAA Division III record for consecutive conference wins at 92; a streak that ended with a win.
The 2003-04 season marked the best season in women's basketball history at Maryville. In addition to finishing the season undefeated in the SLIAC, Ellis' team also posted a 23-3 overall record, recorded the program's first conference championship and made their first NCAA Tournament appearance. The 2005-06 season ranks second in the program's history, including a team best 24 victories.
In his years at the helm of the Saints program, Ellis has coached 17 All-SLIAC honorees, two conference Newcomers of the Year and one conference Player of the Year. As members of the GLVC, he has coached six All-Conference selections, one Player of the Year as well as one Freshman of the Year.
In addition to the on-court success, Ellis has stressed academic achievement in the classroom. The Saints have earned the WBCA Top 25 Team Academic Award nine times and were ranked No. 1 in the nation in 2008-09 with a 3.625 team GPA. The Saints set a program record in 2012-13 with a team 3.644 cumulative GPA.
He took over the Maryville reigns in 2001-02 after spending 18 years coaching at the high school level and one year coaching at the professional level. Before coming to Maryville, Ellis served as the head girl's basketball coach at Parkway South High School in St. Louis and posted an 186-57 record in nine years. He led the Patriots to two State "Elite Eight" appearances, two District Championships and five Conference Championships. In addition, Ellis was named the Suburban South Conference Coach of the Year in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1999, and he was also named the Outstanding Girl's High School Coach in 1997 by the St. Louis Sports Commission.
Ellis' coaching resumé also includes a five years as the head girl's basketball coach at Webster Groves High School and one year as co-head coach of the St. Louis RiverQueens of the Women's Basketball Association (WBA).
Ellis' other accolades include being named to the Keep Hoop Alive Magazine's Hall of Fame in 1999 for his contributions to women's basketball in St. Louis. He has also been twice named to the "Who's Who Among America's Teachers."
Ellis started his coaching career at Valley Park High School where he coached the boys JV team in 1984. That squad won the Tri County Six Conference Championship in 1984-85 season and had a two year record of 28-15.
While coaching at Parkway West, he also took hus first girls' head coaching job at Webster Groves High School in 1987-88 season and won school's first state district title that same season. Ellis coached at WGHS for five seasons and went 88-43. He also coached two future WGHS Hall of Famers, Alison Biggs ('88') Cincinnatti and Elizabeth Spurgin ('92'), Marquette.
Ellis, a graduate of Maryville, earned his bachelor's in Education in 1984 and later received his master's in Education from Lindenwood University in 1998. While at Maryville, Ellis was a member of the men's basketball team that went 60-14 from 1981-84.
Ellis has two children daughter, Zoe, and son, Drew.
