Russell Ellington

Russell Ellington (February 4, 1938 – September 1, 2007) was an American basketball coach. He served as the head basketball coach at Savannah State College—now known as Savannah State University—from 1976 to 1984 and Morris Brown College from 1997 to 2000, compiling a career college basketball coaching record of 181–141. His titles as a coach include: four state high school basketball championships; three Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAA) titles; two Region XVII Junior College championships, and one NJCCA District 10 championship.

Education Russell graduated from Alfred E. Beach High School in Savannah, Georgia, in 1956. He was an academic All-American in football and in basketball at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia, graduating with a bachelor's degree in biology, with a minor in chemistry, in 1960. He did further studies at University of Georgia and Georgia Southern University.

Savannah State (1976–1984) As Savannah State College;'s men's had basketball coach Ellington compiled a 148–91 record (.619 winning percentage). During that time he also was the school's athletics director and a mathematics teacher, overseeing the school's transition from NCAA Division III to Division II in 1981.

He currently holds the record for most wins by a men's basketball coach in Savannah State's history, producing winning records in the final eight of his nine seasons and winning three Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season and tournament title during his tenure.

Harlem Globetrotters (1984–1993) Ellington toured with the Globetrotters as head coach from 1984 to 1993, traveling to 122 countries with the team.

Personal life Ellington was married to Betty W. Ellington for 30 years; they had six children.

He was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, the Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum Board of Directors, the Board of Directors for the West Broad Street YMCA (Savannah, Georgia), the Georgia High School Sports Association, and the South Eastern Quarter Back Club.

Ellington died on September 1, 2007, from lung cancer complications at St. Joseph's Hospital in Savannah, aged 69.