Burroughs taps Ellis as new boys’ basketball coach
A longtime assistant boys’ basketball coach in Southern California, Allan Ellis was looking for the right situation to finally make the jump to the head coaching ranks.
The Crespi graduate thinks he’s found that perfect situation at Burroughs High.
Ellis, 32, accepted the head position with the Indians Wednesday.
“I am extremely excited about this opportunity and I am looking forward to the challenge,” Ellis said. “I have been looking for a head varsity coaching position for the last few years and I think this is a really good step for me. I had been searching around for something that would be the right fit for me, in the right area for me. I think this is a good program with a good system.
“I think this is very good place for my personality and the way that I coach.”
For the last two seasons, Ellis served as an assistant at Westlake, where he was also the junior varsity head coach. Previously, he was also an assistant coach at Royal in Simi Valley from 2007-13 and an assistant at Chaminade from 2004-07 seasons
An All-CIF and All-Mission League point guard at Crespi, as a junior he helped the Celts to a CIF championship in 2001. He led Crespi in scoring during his senior campaign in 2002.
“He has paid his dues and he’s earned the opportunity to be a head basketball coach,” said Dick Dornan, who coached Ellis at Crespi. “He has put the time in as an assistant coach at three quality programs and he seems like a great fit for this program. I really think he’ll do a great job at Burroughs.
“He’s a young coach who really knows his basketball. I think he’s going to bring a lot of energy to the program.”
Ellis played at Moorpark College and Saddleback College during the 2003-05 seasons. He is a 2008 graduate of San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Ellis works as a personal trainer and specializes in sports specific conditioning.
“He has never been a head coach, but every single coach that I’ve talked to at the schools where he’s been the coach said if he wasn’t there Allan would have taken over the program by now,” Burroughs assistant principal Kenny Knoop said. “He has had unbelievably glowing reviews about him and his interviews were just outstanding.
“We had some very qualified candidates for the open job and he really did well and he stood out. I thought we had a very strong pool of candidates this year. We expect him to come in right away and be successful with our program; he’s just that kind of guy.”
Ellis takes over for Adam Hochberg, who stepped down in March after leading the program for seven seasons. Burroughs had a 22-8 record this past season. In Pacific League play, the Indians went 9-5 and finished tied for third place with Crescenta Valley. Burroughs made a deep run in the playoffs, earning victories against Alhambra, Beaumont and Vista Murrieta to advance to the semifinals, where it lost to eventual division champion Santa Monica, 68-45.
It was the first time Burroughs advanced to a final four in 26 years and only the third semifinal appearance in school history.
Hochberg had an 85-107 overall record and his teams went 35-63 in league play during his seven seasons.
The Indians are expected return one of their top players from last season, junior Tristen Hull. Hull earned All-CIF Southern Section Division I-A first-team recognition. The forward averaged 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists per game.
“I see great possibilities with the upcoming team,” Ellis said. “I know they were 22-8 last year, but their JV team was also 20-7, so there is a lot of talent coming up and I know Tristen’s coming back. I look forward to see where everyone will fit in on this team.”
