Titans’ Ellmann Elected To WVCA Hall of Fame
UW-Oshkosh head women's volleyball coach Jon Ellmann is among 12 individuals who will be inducted into the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame later this summer.
The WVCA's 2021 Hall of Fame induction class also includes coaches Charlie Berg (Westosha Central High School and Kenosha Christian Life School), Betty Lange (Newman Catholic High School), Mike & Wendy Meierotto (Washburn High School), Bruce Moriarty (Neenah High School), Lisa Roelke (River Valley High School), Dave Scher (Pius XI High School), Ted Schulte (Catholic Memorial High School) and Carol St. Arnauld (Niagara High School).
Inducted as the first two players are Simone Lee (Menomonee Falls High School and Penn State University) and Aubrey Meierotto (Washburn High School and University of Wisconsin), and the first-ever official in Harry Babcock (Wisconsin Rapids).
The inductions of this dynamic and prolific Hall of Fame group take place Aug. 7 at the Holiday Inn Appleton (1565 N Casaloma Drive, Appleton, WI 54913).
"I'm truly amazed at the work our Hall of Fame Class of 2021 has done, and continues to do," WVCA Executive Director Jay Messar said. "The nine coaches on this list are longtime advocates for our sport and are directly responsible for the continued success of volleyball across our statewide landscape. The two players on this list are a pair of the most prolific student-athletes to ever come out of the Badger State. Additionally, our sport couldn't exist without officials, and it is very special to honor one of the state's best with this inaugural recognition of well-deserved referees."
Ellmann enters his fourth season at the helm of the UW-Oshkosh women's volleyball program in 2021 after the 2020 campaign was canceled due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Ellmann, who was named UW-Oshkosh's head coach in January 2018 after serving as the program's interim head coach during the 2017 season, has compiled a 58-40 record during his three seasons with the Titans, including a 9-12 mark in conference play. He has coached two players to a total of three All-WIAC First Team awards.
In 2019, Ellmann led UW-Oshkosh to a 21-10 record, including a 4-3 WIAC mark that placed the Titans fourth in the league standings. The Titans, who won 10 of 11 matches from Sept. 6-25, paced the conference at 2.10 blocks per set and made their WIAC record-tying 32nd consecutive trip to the league postseason tournament.
Ellmann's 2018 Titans went 17-15 overall and 2-5 in conference matches as UW-Oshkosh completed its 20th consecutive season with a .500 or better winning percentage. UW-Oshkosh advanced to the semifinals of the WIAC Championship after becoming the first sixth-seeded team since 1997 to win a first-round match during the league postseason.
Ellmann guided UW-Oshkosh to a 20-15 record in 2017, including a 3-4 mark in the WIAC. The Titans, who won seven of their last eight matches and reached the semifinal round of the WIAC Championship, led the league with 2.13 blocks per set.
Before coaching the Titans in an interim capacity, Ellmann was UW-Oshkosh's top assistant coach during the 2016 season when the program compiled a 28-8 record, earned a share of its second straight WIAC title and advanced to the NCAA Division III postseason. He assisted in all phases of the program, with emphases in game analysis, scouting, recruiting, and youth camps.
Ellmann, who played for the UW-Oshkosh men's club volleyball team, returned to UW-Oshkosh after coaching 17 years at the high school level, including 11 seasons as the head girls' volleyball coach at Lourdes Academy in Oshkosh from 2005-15. Ellmann led the Knights to the state tournament in 2015 and the sectional finals in 2013 and 2014. His teams won conference titles in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Ellmann began his coaching career with the Gibraltar High School freshman and junior varsity girls' volleyball teams from 1999-2003 before becoming an assistant varsity coach at Lourdes Academy in 2004.
Ellmann also has extensive coaching experience at the club level, leading the Wisconsin Volleyball Academy, the largest volleyball club in Wisconsin, from 2008-18 as its co-director and head coach. Ellmann and the WVA helped 107 girls earn an opportunity to play volleyball at the NCAA level, including 38 at Division III, 31 at Division I and 26 at Division II. Prior to joining the WVA, Ellmann was the director and head coach of the Nightmares Volleyball Club from 2004-08.
Ellmann, who served as president of the WVCA from 2011-16, is the owner of Oshkosh Camps LLC, which is dedicated to the skill development of student-athletes and the promotion of the sport of volleyball in Wisconsin.
The Gibraltar High School graduate earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from UW-Oshkosh in 2012 and 2014, respectively. He lives in Oshkosh with his wife, Jackie; daughter, Molly; and son, Cooper.
This year marks 10 years since the inaugural WVCA Hall of Fame class was named, with 12 coaches also receiving honors back in 2012. To celebrate the WVCA Hall of Fame's 10th Anniversary, the association's Hall of Fame committee found it important for the first time to open considerations to current and active coaches, and those who contribute to the game. This shift can include former players, current and former officials, and friends of the game.
The 2021 Hall of Fame banquet will be flanked by the annual WVCA Coaches Clinic, which returns in-person Aug. 7-8 at the Community First Champion Center in Appleton.