Edward Ellis

Ed Ellis, PMHS Class of 1982, was an outstanding athlete who, as a high school
senior, won New York State championships in both the shot put and discus throws in
both winter and spring track-and-field seasons, setting records in both events. His
record-setting shot-put throw of 67’ 8” stood for more than 26 years. Ed also added
another gold medal as a member of the state championship 4×100 meter relay team.
Among the top high school shot-putters in the nation, Ed placed third that year at the
Golden West Invitational in California.

In his time at Patchogue-Medford, Ed exemplified the very most positive
characteristics of a student-athlete and leader. Tireless in the pursuit of perfection in
his shot putting and discus throwing technique, he also dedicated himself to his
muscular development in order to maximize the power he could derive from a
perfect throwing form. Ed was also an All-League and All-County running back and
defensive back for the Raider football team.

As a student-athlete at the University of Alabama, Ed was an all-Southeastern
Conference performer in shot put and discus, and his personal bests stand among
the top throwing performances in the Crimson Tide’s long and proud athletic history.
After retiring from competition, Ed transferred his focus into becoming one of the
nation’s most highly sought-after strength and conditioning coaches, achieving
positions at some of the most successful collegiate athletic programs in the country,
including the University of Arkansas, Ole’ Miss, Illinois State, Georgia Tech and
South Florida. Today Ed is the Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of
Georgia. Thirteen of the football teams that Ed has worked with have appeared in
bowl games.

Ed is a member of the Board of Directors of the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning
Coaches Association. In 2000 he was chosen as the CSCCA Professional of the
Year for the Atlantic Coast Conference. In 2003 he was awarded with Master
Strength Coach Certification, the highest honor bestowed by the CSCCA. Between
1987 and 1997 he held several world and national Drug-Free Power Lifting records
in the categories of bench press, squat, dead lift, and total, including a personal-best
620 pounds in the bench press.

Ed and his wife, the former Dyann Edmondston, a 1983 graduate of PMHS, will
celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary in July. They have four children: Jessica
25, Nicole 23, Eric 20 and Brian 18.