MARQUETTE---Northern Michigan head men's golf coach Dean Ellis will retire from his post at NMU effective January 3, 2014 announced Athletic Director Forrest Karr Thursday.
"I would like to thank Northern Michigan University for allowing me the privilege to coach for over 33 years in Marquette," said Ellis. "It has allowed me the opportunity to work and raise my family in my hometown of Negaunee. My sincere gratitude goes to my parents, Pappy and Ruth Ellis and to my wife Lois and our sons Coach Dan Ellis and Coach Dave Ellis."
Ellis led the Wildcat golf program since 1993 and has worked at Northern Michigan since 1983 when he was hired as an assistant basketball coach under Glenn Brown.
This past fall, Ellis led NMU to an eighth place finish out of 14 teams at the GLIAC Golf Championships and a 14th place finish out of 33 teams at the NCAA Regionals.
"Dean is an excellent teacher and great to work with," said Karr. "He will be missed. Fortunately, he is planning to help us find another quality coach with similar passion for helping young men improve."
Ellis became head coach of the men's basketball team in 1986-87 and posted a 369-303 record, becoming the winningest coach in program history in January 2005. He stepped down as head coach on April 10, 2009 after 24 years of service.
Under Ellis' leadership, the basketball Wildcats made 13 appearances in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) post-season tournament and won the 1999-2000 title. His 1993, 1999 and 2000 squads won GLIAC regular-season titles and also qualified for the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament. He had four 20-win seasons (1993, '94, '99, '00) and was selected 1993 GLIAC Coach of the Year.
A native of Negaunee, Ellis played collegiately at Southwest Missouri State University. He transferred to NMU and completed his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1983.
