Princeton University Athletics
Former Princeton Track and Field Coach Larry Ellis Now a Hall of Famer
October 14, 1999 | Men's Track and Field
Oct. 14, 1999
Indianapolis, Ind. - Former Princeton Track and Field coach Larry Ellis has been elected to the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame. Ellis will be formally inducted into the hall during the 21st annual induction ceremonies to take place in Los Angeles on December 2 at the USATF's annual meeting.
Ellis will be inducted along with three other track and field legends. World record holders Willie Banks (triple jump), Charles Moore (hurdles) and Bill Rodgers (marathon) are Ellis' fellow inductees.
During Ellis' 22 years at Princeton, he was regarded as one of the top inspirational coaches inthe profession. He was the 1984 United States Olympic team head coach and the 1998 USA World Cup head coach. He began his coaching career at Jamaica High School in New York.
Among the star athletes he coached were Bob Beamon, former world record holder in the long jump, and USATF Chief Executive Officer Craig Masback. Under his tutelage, Princeton won 11 Heptagonal team titles in track and field plus another eight in cross country. He has served USATF in many capacities and was the organization's president from 1992-96.
An outstanding middle distance runner at New York University, he was third in the 1951 NCAA 880-yard run and in 1950 he won the Canadian indoor 1,000-yard title.
Born September 29, 1929, Ellis passed away on November 4, 1998.