Garfield Ellenwood II begins his second season at Alabama State, and first as the associate head coach for the indoor and outdoor track programs.
In his first season, he helped both programs - men and women - to Southwestern Athletic Conference indoor track and field championships prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ellenwood has a long record of success during his extensive coaching career. Most recently coming from Norfolk State University where he served as Associate Director/Head Women’s Coach and personal coach for volunteer coach Christina Clemmons the #7 World ranked hurdler. In 2017 he led NC A&T women’s program to their first ever MEAC team championship as the women captured both in indoor and outdoor team titles. Ellenwood’s athletes accounted for 121 of the 155 points scored indoor and 113 of the 138 scored outdoor. Prior to his arrival to NC A&T he guided two athletes to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Ronnie Ash to his first and Jeff Porter to his second Olympic Games (London 2012) in the 110h. In 2015 he guided Ronnie Ash to a #9 world ranking in the 110h and Sharika Nelvis to a #2 world ranking and the fastest time in the world (12.34) in the 100h, both were members of Team USA Beijing World Championship Team. In seventeen years of coaching Ellenwood has coached thirteen NCAA Division I first team (event finalist) All-Americans spread out over the sprint and hurdle events as well as three National Champions, one of which was a three-time champion in the sprint hurdles. Before his arrival to NC A&T, Ellenwood spent two years at Mississippi State (2011-13) where he coached Thirteen All- SEC performers, twelve East Regional qualifiers and ten NCAA final round qualifiers. Prior to his time at Mississippi State, he led the Bethune-Cookman University men and women’s programs. During the 2008 outdoor season he led the women’s 4x100m relay to the NCAA final round (first women to ever compete for B-CU at the NCAA Division I Championships in track & field) and Ronnie Ash to a third-place finish in the 110h. The following year 2009, Ellenwood made history once again by guiding 11 total athletes to the NCAA final round, the most from any one HBCU in NCAA Division I history. Ronnie Ash captured back too back NCAA sprint hurdle Championships and the Men’s team captured a top 25 team finish of #23 for at the outdoor track & field Championships.
Before B-CU, Ellenwood had a two-year stay at UNLV as an assistant. The Runnin’ Rebels women’s program became competitive nationally during his time there. In 2006 Ellenwood led Ashley Owens (personal best of 7.19) to the NCAA 60m runner up. During the 2006 indoor and outdoor season Christine Spence earned a total of three NCAA first team All-American honors while Halima DeCree (personal best of 11.25) also earned first team NCAA All-American honors. Ellenwood started his collegiate coaching career at Campbell University (Buies Creek, NC) as assistant sprint and jump coach. In 2002 while under Ellenwood Eric Bergemann captured Campbell University’s first NCAA DI All-American honor in the high jump. He also served as a volunteer assistant coach at Essex County College in Newark, N.J.
Ellenwood also has international coaching experience. During the 2012 indoor season he led Gloria Asumnu (personal best 7.07) to an Indoor World Championship fifth-place finish at 60m. In 2008 Ellenwood led Angela Williams (personal best & fastest time in the world of 7.06) to the 2008 Indoor World Championships 60m World title. In 2008 Ellenwood was named Head coach of the Liberian National and 2008 Beijing Olympic Team.
During his collegiate career, Ellenwood was a three-time Junior college All-America at Essex County College. While attending Seton Hall University he set the Big East and Seton Hall records in the 55-meter dash, as well as finishing third in the event during the 1997 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Ellenwood won five Big East titles and was a two-time All-American.
Garfield and his wife Joyce Ellenwood, have two children – daughter Diamond Ellenwood (2015 graduate of Mississippi State), son Chadwick Ellenwood and granddaughter Aubree Brown.
