April 8, 2008

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Providence College Head Women's Basketball Coach Phil Seymore announced that Bethany Ellis has been hired as the program's Director of Basketball Operations. Ellis was a graduate assistant with the Friars' program from 2003-2005. She will assume her duties as a full-time member of the women's basketball staff on April 8.

After completing a two-year graduate assistantship with the Providence women's basketball program in 2005 and earning a master's degree in counseling, Ellis moved on to become the head women's basketball coach at Johnson & Wales University (2005-07). In her first season with JWU in 2005, she directed her squad to the most improved season in the nation. She inherited a 1-25 team and orchestrated a 14-game improvement in the win column with a 15-11 record. For her efforts, she was named Great Northeast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2006.

In addition to her coaching duties at Johnson & Wales, Ellis also served as the athletic department's community service liaison, coordinating various programs with local elementary schools.

Ellis' coaching experience began at Foran High School as the freshmen girls' basketball coach (2002-03). During her one-year stint at Foran, she led her team to a perfect 16-0 record.

Ellis is a 2002 graduate of Yale University, where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology. She competed on the women's basketball team at Yale for two seasons from 1998-00. Ellis is a native of Harmon, Illinois and attended Bureau Valley High School (Manlius, Ill.). Ellis helped Bureau Valley to two regional and conference championships and was a two-time Local Player of the Year and All-State selection.

- GO FRIARS! -