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John Ellenson
17U/11th Grade, 16U/10th Grade and 14U/8th Grade
3rd Season with PGC
Coach John Ellenson has been an AAU coach for the past six years
and the last three with Playground Warriors. In that time he has experienced
a lot of success and has worked with many talented players improving their
individual skills.
Prior to coaching at the AAU level John coached at three different colleges
in Northern Wisconsin which included time as the Interim Head Coach at UW-Superior,
UW-Eau Claire, where he met his wife Holly, and Northland College where he
and Holly coached together. At UW-Superior John coached the Yellowjackets
to an upset victory over a Division II school, Southwest Minnesota State.
At Northland College the team had made the Final Four under Holly and the
following year made the Division III playoffs in their inaugural season. Other
coaching experiences include being a high school assistant at two different
schools as well as being a Cadet Coach while living and working in France.
John's last playing experience came as a professional in Dijon, France. He
led his CSLDijon team in scoring and rebounding as well as guided his team
to many great victories against larger clubs throughout the South of France.
John played for an outstanding coach and individual, Marcel Tomaselli who
led the club and is still there today helping young players learn the game.
Before France John played for the Univerisity of Wisconsin Badgers where he
Captained the team his senior year. While John was a player the school reached
two post season tournaments the first tournaments the school had achieved
in over 40 years. John still ranks as one of the Badgers top ten in three
point shooting percentage as well as ranking third his senior season in three
point shooting percentage for the Big Ten Conference. John spent one season
at Marquette University where he earned another post season birth before transferring
to Wisconsin.
John's high school career includes, two Big Rivers MVP awards and First Team
All-State honors in the coaches poll as well as the media's. John won a sectional
final game that included a triple double, 39 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 blocks
that helped his Menomonie High School to a state apperance. John also competed
at the state track meet as a high jumper.
Coach Ellenson has four children, Wally, Ellwood, Henry and Ella and married
to his lovely wife Holly. John has earned his Masters of Science in Education
in School Counseling and is currently an elementary school counselor.
Coach Ellenson is committed to teaching and coaching young men through a set
of core beliefs and values in order for these students to become successful
community members as well as extremely talented basketball players. John is
a firm believer in hard work and individual skill development as well as knowing
the strength of a team is always stronger than an individual. Preparing and
motivating student-athletes to set high goals and standards to live by is
what drives Coach Ellenson.