Men's Golf
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- ellisda8@ath.msu.edu
- Phone:
- 884-8917
Former Spartan golfer Dan Ellis was named the program's new assistant coach on April 29, 2014 and was promoted to associate head coach on July 1, 2018.
Over his six seasons with the Spartans, Ellis has helped mentor seven All-Big Ten selections and 10 All-America Scholars. The Spartans have earned NCAA Tournament bids four consecutive seasons from 2016-19, which is the best NCAA streak in program history. Additionally, MSU has captured a tournament win each full season of 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.
Ellis, a native of Negaunee, Michigan, 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 five 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). 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.
In 2018, he missed qualifying for the U.S. Open by two strokes, taking eighth at the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying at Springfield Country Club in Ohio. Also in 2018, he took second in the Michigan Amateur and fifth at the Golf Association of Michigan Championship.
Ellis paired with MSU Men’s Golf Volunteer Coach Chad Kurmel to win the 2020 Michigan State Pro-Am. Ellis was the 2016 Lansing All-City Champion and won the 2017 GAM Four-Ball title. The Michigan native also won the 2008 and 2012 Upper Peninsula Golf Association Championship.
