Great Valley coach Ellis steps down after 5 years

EAST WHITELAND >> The man who brought Great Valley a football district championship in 2014 has resigned as head coach of the Patriots. Dan Ellis has informed the Great Valley administration and his team that he is stepping down after five years as boss of the Great Valley program.

“My goal five years ago was to come to Great Valley and become a teacher in the district and be totally involved in Great Valley,” Ellis said. “And I have not been able to get a teaching position in the District and I just thought the time was right to take a step back. My son will be entering high school next season and my goal was to coach him at Great Valley but that is not going to happen.

“I will still be coaching football, but not being able to get into the District (as a teacher) has been something that has been going on for a while and now it is time to move on.”

Russ Wren, athletic director at Great Valley, said Ellis will be sorely missed and finding a suitable replacement will not be easy.

“Dan Ellis did a terrific job here at Great Valley,” Wren said. “Not only did he win a district championship, he turned our program into a playoff contender year in and year out. He elevated our program to a new level. It will be very difficult to replace the contributions he has made to our program, our school and our community. He made our athletes better football players and more importantly better young men.”