Upcoming Event: Men's Golf versus Loyola Intercollegiate on February 15, 2026
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Men's Golf
vs Loyola Intercollegiate
South Dakota State University Athletics
Men's Golf
Dean Ellis
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- Dean.Ellis@sdstate.edu
- Phone:
- (605) 688-5329
   Dean Ellis, who spent 20 years as the Northern Michigan head golf coach, joined the South Dakota State golf program as assistant coach in 2014.
   In two seasons, Ellis has helped the Jackrabbits make history. In 2015-16, SDSU won the program’s first Summit League Championship and played in its first Division I Regional.
   Along the way, the Jackrabbits won the 2016 Jackrabbit Invitational for their 11th regular-season title as a Division I program and broke two school records.
   Ellis also helped Grant Smith earn first-team All-Summit League honors and Felipe Strobach earned second-team honors. The duo were the first teammates to be honored in the same year since Geoff Mead and Trent Peterson were named to the league's first team in 2008-09.
   Ellis, who was named the head golf coach at Northern Michigan in 1993, led NMU to the 2014 NCAA Regionals, where it placed 14th, after finishing eighth at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Golf (GLIAC) Championships. Additionally, he guided the Wildcats to the 1999 NCAA Division II Tournament.
   While at Northern Michigan, Ellis served as the Golf Association of Michigan Governor, on the NCAA Division II, District IV Golf Regional Advisory Committees and organized and administrated the 1999 and 2010 GLIAC Golf Championships.
   In 2011-12, Ellis was the lead instructor at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa where he provided individual and group lessons with use of JC-Video and Foresight GC2. He was also the head golf professional at the Wawonowin Country Club in Ishpeming, Mich., in 1991, winning the club championship in 1995. Additionally, Ellis won the Upper Peninsula men’s amateur championship in 1981.
   Ellis was also the men’s basketball coach at Northern Michigan, starting in 1986-87. He posted a 369-303 record, becoming the winningest coach in program history in 2005. Ellis stepped down as head coach in 2010 after 24 years.
   Under Ellis’ leadership, the Wildcats made 13 appearances in the GLIAC postseason tournament and won the 1999-2000 title. His 1993, 1999 and 2000 squads won GLIAC regular-season titles and also qualified for the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament. He had four 20-win seasons (1993, '94, '99, '00) and was selected 1993 GLIAC Coach of the Year.
   A native of Negaunee, Mich., where he was a standout athlete, Ellis earned three letters in basketball and four in golf at Southwest Missouri State University. He transferred to Northern Michigan where he completed work on his bachelor’s degree in 1983.
   Ellis and his wife, Lois, are the parents of David, SDSU assistant golf coach, and Daniel, Michigan State assistant golf coach.
   In two seasons, Ellis has helped the Jackrabbits make history. In 2015-16, SDSU won the program’s first Summit League Championship and played in its first Division I Regional.
   Along the way, the Jackrabbits won the 2016 Jackrabbit Invitational for their 11th regular-season title as a Division I program and broke two school records.
   Ellis also helped Grant Smith earn first-team All-Summit League honors and Felipe Strobach earned second-team honors. The duo were the first teammates to be honored in the same year since Geoff Mead and Trent Peterson were named to the league's first team in 2008-09.
   Ellis, who was named the head golf coach at Northern Michigan in 1993, led NMU to the 2014 NCAA Regionals, where it placed 14th, after finishing eighth at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Golf (GLIAC) Championships. Additionally, he guided the Wildcats to the 1999 NCAA Division II Tournament.
   While at Northern Michigan, Ellis served as the Golf Association of Michigan Governor, on the NCAA Division II, District IV Golf Regional Advisory Committees and organized and administrated the 1999 and 2010 GLIAC Golf Championships.
   In 2011-12, Ellis was the lead instructor at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa where he provided individual and group lessons with use of JC-Video and Foresight GC2. He was also the head golf professional at the Wawonowin Country Club in Ishpeming, Mich., in 1991, winning the club championship in 1995. Additionally, Ellis won the Upper Peninsula men’s amateur championship in 1981.
   Ellis was also the men’s basketball coach at Northern Michigan, starting in 1986-87. He posted a 369-303 record, becoming the winningest coach in program history in 2005. Ellis stepped down as head coach in 2010 after 24 years.
   Under Ellis’ leadership, the Wildcats made 13 appearances in the GLIAC postseason tournament and won the 1999-2000 title. His 1993, 1999 and 2000 squads won GLIAC regular-season titles and also qualified for the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament. He had four 20-win seasons (1993, '94, '99, '00) and was selected 1993 GLIAC Coach of the Year.
   A native of Negaunee, Mich., where he was a standout athlete, Ellis earned three letters in basketball and four in golf at Southwest Missouri State University. He transferred to Northern Michigan where he completed work on his bachelor’s degree in 1983.
   Ellis and his wife, Lois, are the parents of David, SDSU assistant golf coach, and Daniel, Michigan State assistant golf coach.
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