Football

Donte Ellington comes to Cookeville with two Football Championship Subdivision stops under his belt, including a season at Eastern Kentucky. But the biggest thing on his resume is coaching several players who had successful pro careers, including five to the National Football League.

 

Growing up in the San Jose area, he went to San Jose City College, then graduated in 2008 from Northwood University.

 

During his collegiate days and following, Ellington cut his teeth as a coach at San Jose High Academy, serving as both the offensive and defensive coordinators, and an assistant track and field coach. He was there from 2005 to 2014.

 

Following stops at Menlo College, Garden City Community College and Independence Community College, he took his first NCAA job with Division II’s Midwestern State, serving as the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. There, seven wide receivers set school records, had 17 100-plus yard games, three with 150-plus yard games and one with a 200-yard game. The receivers set records in single-season receiving yards and touchdowns, compiling over 6,000 yards and 60 touchdowns in two seasons.

 

He caught the eye of Eastern Kentucky and coached the Colonels’ receivers for one season in 2019. It was a productive season as he brought in a transfer from UConn who led EKU with over 500 receiving yards. The Colonels saw a 16-percent increase in receptions, 17-percent in yardage and 7-percent in yards per game under his guidance.

 

Ellington then went to Abilene Christian for the 2020 season. He recruited a Florida Atlantic and Ohio State transfer and saw the team rank third in the Southland Conference in completion percentage, fourth in passing and fourth in passing first downs.