Tellis B. Ellis (1992) - Hall of Fame - Southwestern Athletic Conference

Hall of Fame

Tellis Burthorne Ellis Jr. was born on May 26, 1912, in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
He attended Morehouse College and later Boston University.
In his playing days he was a college football player (e.g., at Jackson State College, predecessor of JSU) and captained the team.

Coaching & administrative career at Jackson State

Ellis served as head football coach at Jackson State from 1946 to 1951, compiling a record of 24-21-3.
He also served as head basketball coach (at least for 1949-50) at Jackson State.
Perhaps even more significantly, he was the athletic director at Jackson State from 1946 until 1977.
- Under his leadership the athletics program grew, and JSU achieved multiple championships in different sports.
- For example: four NAIA national track championships (1973, 1975, 1976, 1977), seven Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) track championships, five SWAC football championships, and five SWAC basketball championships all during his tenure.