Men's Golf
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- ellisda8@ath.msu.edu
- Phone:
- 884-8917
Former Spartan golfer Dan Ellis returns back to his alma mater for his second stint as an assistant coach with the men’s golf program.
He previously spent eight years working under Head Coach Casey Lubahn, being named assistant coach in April 2014 before being promoted to associate head coach in July 2018, a position which he held until 2022.
Ellis then worked two seasons as the caddy for former Spartan All-American and 2021 US Amateur Champion James Piot on the LIV Golf League (2022 Niblicks GC, 2023 HyFlyers GC, captained by Phil Mickelson).
Over his eight seasons with the Spartans, Ellis helped mentor seven All-Big Ten selections and 10 All-America Scholars (maybe you can gather these totals 2014-2022). The Spartans earned six NCAA Tournament bids during Ellis' tenure.
Ellis, who graduated from MSU in 2013, spent the 2013-14 season as an assistant coach at Coastal Carolina University. The Chanticleers finished third at the 2014 Big South Championship, led by junior Ben Wheeler earning individual medalist honors. Three different Coastal Carolina golfers posted top-five individual finishes that season.
A native of Negaunee, Michigan, Ellis ended his Spartan playing career 11th on the all-time scoring list with a 75.0 stroke average. As a junior, he was the 12th Spartan to earn PING All-Midwest Region honors, qualified for the 2012 NCAA Central Regional as an individual, earned All-Big Ten Championship recognition after finishing fifth and posted the ninth-best single-season scoring average of 73.06. His career-low rounds were a pair of 66s, which are good for sixth on the MSU 18-hole scoring list. Ellis was second on the team in stroke average as a sophomore and senior.
Ellis had tremendous success both on and off the course, becoming just one of four Spartans to be a two-time Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar (2012, 2013), in addition to being a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. He was also the team's captain as a senior.
Along with his coaching career, Ellis has enjoyed a decorated amateur golf career. He has qualified for six USGA Championships (2007 U.S. Junior Amateur, 2011 U.S. Amateur Public Links, 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur, 2015 U.S. Amateur, 2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur, 2021 US Amateur Four-Ball). In the 2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur, he advanced to the Round of 16, losing to the eventual champion Lucas Michel. His efforts in the event led to him being named the 2019 Golf Association of Michigan Player of the Year.
When Piot became the first golfer from the state of Michigan to win the US Amateur in 2021, Ellis was his caddie. He has caddied in four major championships, the 2017 U.S. Open (Ryan Brehm), the 2022 Masters (Piot), the 2022 U.S. Open (Piot) and the 2023 U.S. Open (Ashton McCulloch). In addition, he has caddied on numerous professional tours, including the PGA, Korn Ferry, Asian, Champions and the LPGA.
Ellis paired with MSU Men’s Golf Assistant Coach Chad Kurmel to win the 2020 and 2021 Michigan State Pro-Am. Ellis was the 2016 Lansing All-City Champion and won the 2017, 2020, and 2021 GAM Four-Ball title. The Michigan native also won the 2008 and 2012 Upper Peninsula Golf Association Championship.
Ellis has also served as an independent sales representative for Miller Golf Sales.
Ellis and his wife, Caroline, a member of the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame and an All-American golfer for the Spartans, reside in Haslett with their sons, Dean and Jack.
