UNCP Athletics

A 12-year college coaching veteran with previous stops at both Western Carolina and Trinidad State Junior College, Ellen McGill begins her sixth season as UNC Pembroke's volleyball head coach in 2020-21

McGill comes to Pembroke from Trinidad, Colo., where she was at the reins of a very successful program at Trinidad State Junior College. She also served a two-year stint as an assistant coach at Western Carolina.

McGill inherited an 11-33 club in 2009 and quickly helped transition the Division I JuCo program into a region powerhouse. Trinidad State posted at least 19 wins in each of her last four seasons, while also taking three trips to the Region IX Tournament. The Trojans completed a remarkable 21-game turnaround in 2014 when they registered a program-best 25-12 record.

During her time in southern Colorado, McGill mentored 15 all-region, 12 all-region tournament and 29 academic all-region players, as well as nine academic all-Americans. Her 2011 and 2013 squads were both decorated with national academic honors from the National Junior College Association of America (NJCAA), while the 2011 club was also decorated with the Sheila R. Worley Sportsmanship Award. Her student-athletes were also responsible for 11 school records.

McGill stepped into the coaching world as an assistant at Western Carolina for both the 2007 and 2008 seasons. While in Cullowhee, she played an integral role in the recruiting efforts of the Catamounts, while also assisting with the program’s strength and conditioning efforts. She has also served as a instructor at several team camps, including the Colorado and North Carolina volleyball camps.

She also served as an assistant coach for the Trinidad State women’s basketball program from 2010 to 2014.

A two-sport standout at Virginia Intermont in Bristol, Va., McGill earned academic all-conference laurels in both basketball and volleyball for the Cobras. A four-year captain of the volleyball team, she still holds school records for single season and career blocks. She also earned academic all-America honors from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and was a Champions of Character award nominee.

McGill earned her bachelor of science degree in sport management from Virginia Intermont in 2006 and earned her master’s degree in sport management from Western Carolina in 2008. Ellen and her husband, Mitch, welcomed their son, Jackson, to the world in February 2020. The family currently reside in Lumberton.
 

HEAD COACHING RECORD