Steve Ellis - Football Coach - East Carolina University Athletics

Steve Ellis

Title:
Assistant Coach - Cornerbacks
Email:
ellisst20@ecu.edu
Phone:
(252) 737-4570

Follow @CoachSteveEllis

Joined the East Carolina staff as cornerbacks coach on Feb. 27, 2020 ....
In only two years, his unit has played a key role netting a combined total of 25 interceptions, which represents ECU's highest per-game clip (1.19) since the 2013 and 2014 campaigns (1.23)...
On the way to gaining bowl eligibility for the first time since 2014, the 2021 Pirates stood 14th nationally and second in the American Athletic Conference with 15 interceptions - seven of which were collectively tallied by cornerbacks Ja'Quan McMillian (5) and Malik Fleming (2) ...
Assisted with game plans that held two '21 opponents under the 100-yard passing mark clip (Temple/69, Navy/37) for the second consecutive season ...
Top student McMillian captured the 2021 NCAA FBS Statistical Championship in passes defended (1.75), while also standing fourth in total interceptions, fifth in interceptions per game (0.42) and 22nd in fumbles recovered (0.67) to go along with his 56 tackles - which was second among all Pirate defenders ...
Additionally, McMillian was a five-time 2021 Second-Team All-America selection (FWAA, Associated Press, The Sporting News, The Athletic and Phil Steele Magazine), a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and an All-AAC choice for the second-straight year ...
Provided an immediate impact to the Pirates' secondary during his first campaign at ECU in 2020 as his young position unit accounted for half of the team's interception total (5/10) ...
Developed then-sophomore honors recipient McMillian, who earned Second-Team All-AAC accolades after ranking 8th nationally (FBS) with four interceptions and standing fifth on the squad with 33 tackles ...
Helped hold two opponents under the 100-yard passing mark in '20 - a first for an East Carolina defense since 2008 ...
Has spent 19 years coaching at the Division I level, which includes a 2019 assignment as defensive backs coach at American Athletic Conference foe South Florida, 10 seasons at Middle Tennessee State and six campaigns at alma mater Nicholls (La.) State ...
While in Tampa working under former head coach Charlie Strong, he played an integral role helping a Bulls' unit that stood among the Top 20 nationally in five statistical categories during the 2019 season - redzone defense (4th/67.4 percent), tackles for loss (5th/8.3 pg), fumbles recovered (10th/12), pass defense (15th/189.5 ypg) and turnovers gained (15th/24) ...
Was part of seven bowl appearances during his 10 years at MTSU while serving as cornerbacks coach (2009-2018), defensive coordinator (2011-14) and recruiting coordinator (2015-2018) ...
Mentored five Blue Raiders who earned all-conference honors, including Marcus Udell and Alex Suber who, respectively, led the league in interceptions and accounted for 12 pass breakups in 2009 ...
As defensive coordinator, he orchestrated an impressive turnaround as Middle Tennessee improved 48 spots in the national rankings in scoring defense, 29 in rush defense and 10 in total defense in 2012 (a year later, the Blue Raiders stood fifth at the FBS level in turnovers gained and 17th in red zone defense) ...
His last four years in Murfreesboro resulted in successive postseason showings at the Bahama Bowl (2015), Hawai'i Bowl (2016), Camellia Bowl (2017) and New Orleans Bowl (2018), the latter following a Conference USA East Division title and league championship game appearance ...
Began coaching career in 2003 at Nicholls State, first working with the safeties before assuming duties as linebackers coach (2004-05) and defensive coordinator (2006-08) ...
After capturing the 2005 Southland Conference title, the 2006 Colonels ranked 19th nationally in total defense and his 2007 unit topped the league in interceptions, total and pass defense ...
During his six-year tenure in Thibodaux, he directed the efforts of three FCS All-America selections, seven first-team all-conference performers, a conference player-of-the-year (third-round Baltimore Ravens draft pick Lardarius Webb), a defensive player-of-the-year (Kareem Moore) and two newcomer-of-the-year award winners ...
Was also a two-time participant in the NFL Coaches Fellowship Program, learning from Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and legendary defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau in 2008 before enjoying a similar experience with the Buffalo Bills in 2010 ...
The Mississippi native was a three-year starter, a three-year all-conference standout and team captain as a defensive back at NSU, wrapping up a playing career in 2002 with over 200 tackles and five interceptions before earning a bachelor's degree in education in 2003 ...
He and wife Regina are the parents of three children - Caleb, Aubrey Grace and Ava Rose ...
Age 42 (January 25).