Edward Ellis

Edward Ellis (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.