Jeff Ellis enters his fourth season as the Head Coach of the Polk State College softball program. Coach Ellis took over the Viking softball program in 2009, and in his first year compiled a record of 30-27 with a conference record of 14-6, leading the Vikings to their first Suncoast Conference Championship since 1996. For his efforts, Ellis was named the 2009 Suncoast Conference Coach of the Year. The Vikings had 8 players garner All-Conference honors in 2009 as well as 3 players named First Team All State.
In 2010 the Vikings finished 40 - 18 and had the first two NJCAA All-Americans in school history with Greta Cecchetti and Margaret Brown earning 2nd Team honors.
In 2011 the Vikings has the most successful season in their history compiling a 44-17 record winning the Suncoast Conference Championship for the second time in three years and advancing to the NJCAA Gulf District Championship game for the first time in school history. For his efforts Ellis was named the Suncoast Conference Coach of the Year for the second time. For the third year in a row the Vikings had the Conference Pitcher of the Year with Cat Floyd garnering the honor this year following previous two time winner Cecchetti. Floyd was also honored with the FCSAA Pitcher of the Year the first Viking to ever win that award. Kenshyra Jackson became the second Viking in a row to be honored with Conference Player of the Year honors following Brown in 2010. Floyd and Jackson also became the first 1st Team NJCAA All-Americans in program hsitory. In three years at PSC Ellis' career record now stands at 114-62.
Prior to coming to PSC, Ellis spent two years as the Pitching Coach at perennial NJCAA power Indian River State College, helping lead the team to a NJCAA Region 8 runner-up finish in 2008. Additionally, Ellis has coached at the college level at NCAA Division I Siena College as well as spending 5 years at NCAA Division II Lynn University, helping guide the Knights to the NCAA Tournament in 2001.
Ellis, a Connecticut native, also spent 8 years coaching with the storied Stratford Brakettes, the 28-time Amateur Softball Association Major Fastpitch National Champions. During his time with the Brakettes, Ellis helped lead the team to back-to-back National Championships in 2002 and 2003, including a record in 2002 of 78-1. With the Brakettes he had the privilege of coaching numerous All-Americans, including United States Olympic Gold Medalists Cat Osterman, Kelley Kretschman, and Danielle Henderson.
Ellis is an alumnus of Sacred Heart University with a bachelor's degree in History, as well as studying Sports Administration at Lynn University, and currently resides in Winter Haven.