Army names Ellerson football coach

Dec 26, 2008 - 5:08 PM WEST POINT, New York (Ticker) -- Rich Ellerson, who spent the last eight seasons at Cal Poly, was named Army's 36th football coach Friday.

Ellerson posted a 56-34 record at Cal Poly, guiding the Mustangs to a top-25 finish in the Football Championship Subdivision in each of the last four seasons.

Cal Poly was ranked No. 3 in the FCS coaches' poll for the final seven weeks of the regular season this year, but was upset in the first round of the FCS playoffs by Weber State.

The Mustangs, who finished 8-3, led the FCS in total offense (487.5 ypg) and scoring offense (44.4ppg).

"Rich has the experience we need," said West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. Buster Hagenbeck "An award and title winning head coach who runs the option, Rich also has extensive ties to West Point and the Army."

The son of a career Army officer from West Point, Ellerson, 54, served as the defensive coordinator at Arizona from 1997 to 2000, when he helped install the "Desert Storm" defense.

His brother was the captain of the 1962 Army team that posted a 6-4 record.

"Rich is a military historian with great love for West Point and has expressed strong interest in this position when it has been open in the past," Army director of athletics Kevin Anderson said.

"He is widely regarded as one of the country's top option coaches having spent a great deal of time with (current Georgia Tech coach) Paul Johnson over the years. As the architect of Arizona's 'Desert Swarm' defense, his prowess on that side of the ball is highly acclaimed. Rich is a high-energy individual and we think his passion and enthusiasm will be a tremendous asset to our football program and cadet-athletes."

Ellerson replaces Stan Brock, who was fired after a second straight 3-9 season that included a 34-0 loss to Navy - Army's seventh straight defeat to the Midshipmen.

The Black Knights have not had a winning season since 1996, when they finished 10-2 and played in the Independence Bowl.