Ellmann Named Interim Head Women's Volleyball Coach

Assistant Chancellor, Director of Athletics Darryl Sims named Jon Ellmann on Wednesday (Aug. 16) as the interim head coach for women's volleyball at UW-Oshkosh.

Ellmann replaces Brian Schaefer who stepped down as head coach of the Titans to pursue other opportunities.

Ellmann enters his second season as a member of the UW-Oshkosh coaching staff after serving as the Titans' top assistant during the 2016-17 season.

Last season, Ellmann assisted in all phases of the UW-Oshkosh women's volleyball program, with emphases in game analysis, scouting, recruiting, and youth camps. The Titans compiled a 28-8 record, earned a share of their second straight WIAC championship and advanced to the NCAA Division III postseason for the second time in three seasons.

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 coach at Lourdes Academy in Oshkosh from 2005-15.

Ellmann led Lourdes Academy to the state tournament in 2015 and the sectional finals in 2014 and 2013. His teams also 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 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 (WVA), the largest volleyball club in Wisconsin, since 2008 as its co-director and head coach. Ellmann and the WVA have helped 102 girls earn an opportunity to play volleyball at the NCAA level, including 38 at Division III, 27 at Division I and 25 at Division II.

"Jon gives our women's volleyball program some stability, and I'm confident that he will bring a tremendous amount of energy, experience and competitiveness to the sidelines as our interim head coach," said Sims. "Our first concern is our student-athletes, and I feel confident that they, and the program, will be in great leadership during this time of transition."

Ellmann earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from UW-Oshkosh in 2012 and 2014, respectively. While playing for the UW-Oshkosh men's club volleyball team, Ellmann's squads finished fifth nationally in both 2003 and 2004.

Ellmann, a graduate of Gibraltar High School, lives in Oshkosh with his wife, Jackie, and daughter, Molly.

Schaefer compiled a 358-116 record (.755 winning percentage) during his 13 seasons as UW-Oshkosh's head coach. His victory total ranks second in UW-Oshkosh and ninth in WIAC history.

UW-Oshkosh captured seven WIAC championships under Schaefer's leadership and advanced to the NCAA Division III postseason eight times. The Titans finished third in the country in 2009 (39-3 record) and fifth in 2008 (40-3 record).

Schaefer coached athletes to one NCAA Division III National Player of the Year as well as nine NCAA Division III All-America, 23 NCAA Division III All-Midwest Region First Team and 35 All-WIAC First Team awards.

Prior to becoming the Titans' head coach in 2004, Schaefer served as the top assistant to UW-Oshkosh head coach Marty Petersen for six years.

A national search for a permanent head coach will take place following the 2017 season.