Bio

Coaching the sport of volleyball at the collegiate level had long been a goal of former Hereford star Meagan Ellis.

The Southern Nazarene University graduate was granted that opportunity earlier this year, setting the stage for Ellis’ college coaching debut this fall in her native land.

Ellis’ journey to becoming the assistant volleyball coach at Amarillo College began during the early stages of childhood.

Her mother, Gloria Ellis, was a NCAA Division I volleyball player at Liberty University in Virginia and her older sister, MacKenzie, played at Southern Nazarene University a decade before her arrival.

“My sister is 10 years older than me, she was already playing when I was young so I was always at the gym. There’s pictures of me in a stroller at her volleyball games,” Meagan said. “My mom helped coach me when I was young and has been a longtime club coach.”

Her mother’s and sister’s love for the game translated immediately.

Meagan started playing club volleyball in middle school and a decorated high school career ensued at Hereford.

The four-year starter with the Whitefaces earned a plethora of accolades and accomplishments from 2013-2016. Feats included being a three-time first team all-district honoree, two-time district player of the year in 4A, a member of the Amarillo Globe News Super Team, and leading her team to an area championship as a senior.

When all was said and done with her volleyball career in Hereford, she already knew she wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a coach after college.

“I’ve always wanted to coach and loved the game of volleyball. So, I’ve never really thought of my life without it,” she said. “I know that sounds cliché, but as long as I can remember I wanted to coach.”

But before her coaching venture began at Amarillo College and with Amarillo Xtreme Volleyball club, Meagan put forth one of the most productive careers in program history at Southern Nazarene University – a Division II school in Bethany, Oklahoma.

Meagan recorded the eighth-highest kill total, 10th most service aces, and the eighth-best dig total in team history.

“My sister went there her first year and played there for the same head coach I had. That coach had been there for 25 years,” Meagan said. “It was a great experience and I learned a lot.”

Graduation followed in 2022 and Meagan returned home with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science.

After the hiring of Badger head volleyball coach Scott Sandel in December, an assistant coaching position for the Badgers opened and the timing proved to be ideal.

“I moved back to Amarillo from Oklahoma in December and saw they just hired Scott. He gave me lessons when I was around 12. So, I thought that’d be a tremendous opportunity to learn from him,” she said. “My mom was his assistant coach at one time and I thought I could get the opportunity to do the same. I applied and I’m thankful Scott decided to have me as his assistant.”

A unique challenge was presented to Sandel and Ellis as they inherited a second-year program with eight returners, who they didn’t recruit out of high school, following the coaching change last December.

So far, the transition has been a pleasant and enlightening one for the Badger volleyball coach.

“I love the class of eight girls that are returning. I think that they have a lot to teach me and I do them. I’m excited,” Meagan said. “It’ll be a challenge but I enjoy challenges. We were only with the girls for four months and I think I established great relationships with the returners”

Outside of her Amarillo College coaching duties, Meagan is a head coach for one of the 17-year-old teams with the Amarillo Extreme Volleyball Club, teaches private lessons, and is an aid for Sandel’s Volleyball Academy.