Coach Cliff Ellis set for Book Signing at Cumberland Basketball Games on February 6

LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland University is set to welcome back Cliff Ellis to campus for a special event on February 6, 2024. Ellis, a member of the Cumberland Sports Hall of Fame and a legendary college basketball coach, will return to the Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena to promote his new book, Life's A Dance.

Ellis, whose storied career spans decades in collegiate basketball, will kick off the evening with a Book Club Meet and Greet Reception in the Athletic Offices at 4:30 p.m. This will be followed by a book signing in the gym lobby starting at 5:00 p.m., giving fans, alumni, and community members the opportunity to meet him and purchase signed copies of his book.

The women's basketball game will tip off at 5:30 p.m., with a special halftime interview featuring Ellis and Cumberland Sports Network commentator Jon Boyce beginning at approximately 6:15 p.m. Following the interview, Ellis will return to the gym lobby for another book signing.

The men's basketball game will follow at 7:30 p.m. During halftime of the men's game, Ellis will be formally introduced alongside several of his former players. Cumberland University President Dr. Paul Stumb and Vice President of Athletics Ron Pavan will lead the introduction.

Ellis's return to Cumberland is a significant occasion for the university community. His new book, Life's A Dance, offers insights into his life and career, blending anecdotes, wisdom, and lessons learned both on and off the court.

"I am thrilled that Coach Ellis is coming back to Cumberland, where he began his remarkable career," said Pavan. "Coach Ellis has left an indelible mark on the lives of so many people throughout his illustrious coaching journey, and we are excited to honor him on this special evening."

Coach Ellis retired from basketball as the winningest active coach in NCAA Division I basketball. He ended his career as the 12th all-time winningest coach in basketball with 909 wins.

Ellis began his coaching journey right here at Cumberland and went on to coach at esteemed institutions such as Auburn, Clemson, and South Alabama, before finishing his career at Coastal Carolina. Throughout his career, Ellis amassed an impressive record of 909-576 (.612), with 831 of those victories coming at the NCAA Division I level. Ellis has guided his teams to an impressive 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, including three Sweet Sixteen berths, marking his teams' deep runs in the tournament.

He served as the head basketball coach and athletic director at Cumberland from 1973-1975. In his three years, he led Cumberland to a 78-12 (.867) record, including two championships in the Tennessee Junior College Athletic Association.

Throughout his illustrious career, Ellis has been honored with multiple national awards, including being named the AP, CBS, and John Wooden National Coach of the Year in 1999. That same year, he also received the prestigious Henry Iba Award. Notably, Ellis is the only coach to have accumulated at least 170 wins at four different NCAA Division I programs. His coaching excellence has been recognized with various Coach of the Year awards from different conferences, such as the Sun Belt (1979), ACC (1987, 1990), SEC (1995, 1999), Big South (2010), and the esteemed John Wooden National Coach of the Year (1999).

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