Ellis named head men's soccer coach at UCCS

by Doug Fitzgerald, UC-Colorado Springs SID 

COLORADO SPRINGS - February 5, 2008 - The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs announced the hiring of Henry Ellis as the Mountain Lions new men's soccer coach on Tuesday.

"We're excited to bring Henry Ellis into our family here at UCCS," said athletic director Stephen Kirkham. "He obviously has an outstanding soccer resume, but we're equally excited about how we think he'll fit in here. At UCCS, we strongly believe that a balance should be maintained between academics and athletics and coach Ellis has that same philosophy."

Ellis comes to UCCS after a two-year stint at Division I Virginia Military Institute, where he served as coach Ben Freakley's top assistant. While with the Keydets, Ellis was instrumental in bringing in one of the largest recruiting classes in school history. A former goalkeeper, he also oversaw the development of freshman keeper Brian Sowell, who ranked second in the country in saves (7.06), while also setting the VMI season mark for shutouts (4.5) and save percentage (80.4%).

Prior to joining VMI, Ellis was the assistant for the women's programs at Tennessee Tech and Albright College. He began his coaching career in 1999 at The Citadel, where he guided the team's goalkeepers after playing four years there.

But his playing career didn't end at The Citadel. Ellis was the keeper for the USL Pro Select League champion Wilmington Hammerheads in 2003. He also played for the Reading Rage of the USL D3 League, the Charleston Battery of the USL A League and D.C. United of the MLS.

Ellis replaces Flavio Mazzetti, who resigned after five seasons as the Mountain Lions head coach.