dudeman0501
03-19-2004, 09:53 PM
Ellis Fired as Auburn Basketball Coach
http://files.aximsite.com/sec/coachellis.jpg
SOURCE: SECsports.com
AUBURN -- Cliff Ellis has been relieved of his duties as Auburn University's head basketball coach, AU Interim President Ed Richardson announced today.
"I met with Coach Ellis this morning and informed him that a change in the leadership of our basketball program was needed," Richardson said. "My evaluation of the program indicates to me that we need to move in a different direction.
"I am aware of the many accomplishments of Coach Ellis in his tenure here. I appreciate what he has done with the program. It is simply time for a change."
Richardson said Auburn will begin the process of identifying candidates to replace Ellis promptly.
Ellis was 186-125 in 10 years at Auburn, and was 73-87 in SEC games. He finished above .500 in league play in only two seasons. In the just-completed 2003-04 season, Ellis' team finished 14-14 overall and 5-11 in the SEC.
In two of the last three seasons, the Tigers failed to earn bids to postseason tournaments.
Ellis' best season was 1998-99, when he led the Tigers to a 29-4 record, an SEC Championship and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He also took the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament in 1999-2000 and 2002-03, won SEC Coach of the Year awards in 1995 and 1999 and was selected National Coach of the Year in 1999.
Ellis leaves Auburn second on its all-time victory list behind Joel Eaves, who won 213 games between 1950 and 1963.
STATEMENT FROM AUBURN ATHLETIC DIRECTOR DAVID HOUSEL ON CLIFF ELLIS
"We all appreciate Coach Ellis' many contributions to Auburn and to our basketball program. I think we as an athletic department, as a University and as a community should thank Coach Ellis and his wife, Carolyn, for helping make Auburn a better place to live, to learn and to compete.
"As much as we appreciate Coach Ellis' accomplishments and contributions, we have not consistently met our minimum competitive goals which include a winning Southeastern Conference record, being a force in the SEC and making the NCAA Tournament on a consistent basis. That does not in any way lessen our appreciation for Coach Ellis, for his efforts, his success and his accomplishments."
http://files.aximsite.com/sec/coachellis.jpg
SOURCE: SECsports.com
AUBURN -- Cliff Ellis has been relieved of his duties as Auburn University's head basketball coach, AU Interim President Ed Richardson announced today.
"I met with Coach Ellis this morning and informed him that a change in the leadership of our basketball program was needed," Richardson said. "My evaluation of the program indicates to me that we need to move in a different direction.
"I am aware of the many accomplishments of Coach Ellis in his tenure here. I appreciate what he has done with the program. It is simply time for a change."
Richardson said Auburn will begin the process of identifying candidates to replace Ellis promptly.
Ellis was 186-125 in 10 years at Auburn, and was 73-87 in SEC games. He finished above .500 in league play in only two seasons. In the just-completed 2003-04 season, Ellis' team finished 14-14 overall and 5-11 in the SEC.
In two of the last three seasons, the Tigers failed to earn bids to postseason tournaments.
Ellis' best season was 1998-99, when he led the Tigers to a 29-4 record, an SEC Championship and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He also took the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament in 1999-2000 and 2002-03, won SEC Coach of the Year awards in 1995 and 1999 and was selected National Coach of the Year in 1999.
Ellis leaves Auburn second on its all-time victory list behind Joel Eaves, who won 213 games between 1950 and 1963.
STATEMENT FROM AUBURN ATHLETIC DIRECTOR DAVID HOUSEL ON CLIFF ELLIS
"We all appreciate Coach Ellis' many contributions to Auburn and to our basketball program. I think we as an athletic department, as a University and as a community should thank Coach Ellis and his wife, Carolyn, for helping make Auburn a better place to live, to learn and to compete.
"As much as we appreciate Coach Ellis' accomplishments and contributions, we have not consistently met our minimum competitive goals which include a winning Southeastern Conference record, being a force in the SEC and making the NCAA Tournament on a consistent basis. That does not in any way lessen our appreciation for Coach Ellis, for his efforts, his success and his accomplishments."