By every definition, Cliff Ellis is a winner. As he begins his 16th season as head men’s basketball coach at Coastal Carolina University, Ellis is on the cusp of another coaching milestone. Tally up successful tenures at Cumberland, South Alabama, Clemson, Auburn, and now CCU, and you’ll calculate 895 career victories. That puts Ellis on the doorstep of 900 wins, a feat only thirteen other college basketball coaches have achieved.
So, as the 1968 Florida State alum starts his 49th season on the bench, you would think he might be looking forward to life after basketball. Well, think again.
“I absolutely love the game; I love the competitive part; I love the relationships; I like helping kids,” Ellis told the media on Monday as CCU opened practice for the 2022-23 campaign. “I love the game, my health’s good, I love giving back. I just want to be a blessing to others.”
This CCU squad will look considerably different than last year’s team, which won 19 games and advanced to the finals of “The Basketball Classic,” where the Chanticleers lost to Fresno State 85-74. Coastal returns just three players from a year ago, including starters Will Likayi and Essam Mostafa.
“I like some of the new faces we have,” Ellis stated when discussing the influx of fresh blood to his program. “A special guy that I want to mention is a local guy from Conway who played at Providence in Jimmy Nichols. I think that he’s a guy that can really do some good things here.”
Despite it being perhaps a necessary evil, Ellis is clearly not a fan of the transfer portal.
“You fight or flight; you either get in and dig in or you get out, one of the two.”
Coastal will tipoff the new season on Monday, November 7th at home versus St. Mary’s of Maryland. The Chanticleers also have trips to Missouri (11/23) and South Dakota (12/14) as part of their non-conference schedule. CCU opens Sun Belt Conference play at home against Louisiana on December 29th.
CCU Men’s Basketball Schedule 2022-23
