Derek Ellis is a 1984 graduate of Jeffersonville High School and was one the best players to ever wear a uniform for Hall of Fame Coach Don Poole.

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Coach Ellis is the former Head Coach of Jeffersonville High School. He is the third winningest coach in the history of the school with 206 wins. Only behind Hall of Fame coaches Don Poole and Al Rabe. He spent 16 years in the program and 10 as the Head Coach.

   

Coach Ellis was a 1984 All State selection as a shortstop and North/South All Star selection as a pitcher/shortstop and according to Hall of Fame Coach Don Poole, "Derek was the best all around baseball player I ever coached." 

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He continues to hold Jeff High School season record for Most Wins in a Season as a pitcher with 14 wins and had a  career ERA of 1.00. He pitched and helped his team to the State Finals in 1984 losing in a classic pitchers duel to Marion 1-0.  

 

Derek went on to play for Hall of Fame Junior College coach Jerry Blemker at Vincennes University  and finished his final two seasons at Indiana State University where he was co-captain and starting shortstop for the Sycamores.    

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Coach Ellis managed the 2008 Jeff/GRC Little League All Stars  which participated in the Little League World Series and coached in little league for over a decade.

 

Derek is married to Jennifer Smith Ellis for 30 years and they have three sons all of which play baseball. Drew 27 was an All-American at The University of Louisville and a 2017 2nd round MLB draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Drew made is MLB debut on July 30, 2021 and is now with the Philadelphia Phillies.  Ian 25 played at Kentucky Wesleyan College as a pitcher/outfielder/DH and was 2nd on the team in home runs his senior year. He now works at EBA as the head strength and performance coach. Jack 22 is a Senior 3B/1B/DH at the University of Southern Indiana and is one of the top hitters on the team.