Marshalltown, IA – Marshalltown Community College Athletic Director, Dr. Kathleen Brown, announced the hiring of Dominic Ellis to fill the role of Head Softball Coach. The position was vacated at the end of July, when Head Coach Garland Shirley resigned to become the Head Coach at Clarke University.
"We are really excited to have Dominic on board with us as we look towards the future of Tiger Softball," stated Dr. Brown. "He comes very highly recommended and I trust that he will be a stable presence for our softball program."
Ellis has coached softball at the high school level for six years at Norwalk, Melcher-Dallas, and West Marshall and was just previously serving as the Assistant Softball Coach at Graceland University. Along with softball, Ellis also coaches high school football where he serves as Defensive Coordinator for Saydel High School.
When asked what he likes about coaching at these levels, Ellis stated, "Being a part of a family and the energy and commitment it takes to be involved with sports drives me, and to be involved with a group of dedicated student-athletes with one common goal in pretty special. Coaching at the junior college level is also special because these athletes have bigger goals, and in most cases, are willing to go the extra mile to get there. I can't wait to get started and help these girls advance their careers in softball."
Every coach has a style of coaching and a specific type of athlete they want on their team, Coach Ellis is no different.
"I want to recruit players that have the drive to become better students and better athletes. At this level, these girls have the opportunity to move on to larger four-year institutions and play on the biggest stage our sport offers. This program wants hard working players that have the desire to put in the work to get there."
The MCC softball team has seen some success in recent years, with dominate players like Shaena Robinson exploding on the scene, earning an All-American nod as a freshman and capturing ICCAC's Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards and now she is now playing at a NCAA Division I program at The University of Northern Colorado. Over the last three years the program has went 67-67 and looks to make the next jump under Coach Ellis.
"The first thing I expect from the team is to be excellent in the classroom, that really is a top priority," stated Ellis. "I expect our student athletes to be courteous, timely, and studious, both in the classroom and on the field. I expect my players to dedicate their efforts to becoming a better student, and a better athlete. If they succeed in that, they will have left MCC a better person then when they arrived."
Dominic lives in Urbandale, he had two daughters Danielle (23) and Cloe (21).