26 Facts About Gene Ellenson

Eugene Ellenson was an American college and professional football player, college football coach, and athletic administrator.

Gene Ellenson served in the US Army during World War II and was highly decorated for his actions during the Battle of the Bulge.

Gene Ellenson began his coaching career in 1947 as an assistant at his alma mater, Miami Senior High School.

When Graves left coaching to become UF's full-time athletic director following the 1969 season, Gene Ellenson became the associate AD in charge of Gator Boosters, the fundraising arm of the University of Florida Athletic Association.

Gene Ellenson remained in that position until his retirement in 1987.

Gene Ellenson was known for his fiery and inspirational pep talks.

Gene Ellenson attended Miami Senior High School in Miami, Florida, where he was standout high school football player for the Miami Stingarees.

Gene Ellenson received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, where he played for coach Wally Butts' Georgia Bulldogs football team from 1940 to 1942.

Gene Ellenson graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1943.

Gene Ellenson rose to the rank of captain and was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics' Bravery Medal for his valor and service.

Gene Ellenson played 13 games for the Seahawks at right tackle, starting eleven of them.

Gene Ellenson was the line coach for the Miami Senior High School Stingarees football team from 1947 to 1949.

Gene Ellenson then became an assistant for the Miami Hurricanes football team at the University of Miami, serving under head coach Andy Gustafson from 1950 to 1958.

When Ray Graves was hired to be the new head coach of the Florida Gators football team at the University of Florida in January 1960, Gene Ellenson was the first assistant that Graves hired.

Gene Ellenson was a key contributor to the Gators' first three nine-win seasons in 1960,1966 and 1969.

Graves privately contemplated his retirement from coaching before and during the 1969 season, and rumors circulated that he would continue to serve as the University of Florida's athletic director while Gene Ellenson would be promoted to head coach.

Graves did indeed resign as coach after the season ended in a Gator Bowl win over Tennessee, but university president Stephen C O'Connell passed over Ellenson and chose Tennessee coach and Florida alumnus Doug Dickey to become the Gators' new football coach, much to the chagrin of the Florida football team.

Gene Ellenson was hugely popular among the Gators players, and served as the team's chief motivational speaker during the 1960s and beyond.

When Buster Bishop, the coach of the Florida Gators men's golf team, fell ill immediately before the 1968 NCAA national tournament, Gene Ellenson accompanied the golfers to the tournament in Las Cruces, New Mexico in his place.

Steve Spurrier had been the Gators' award-winning quarterback while Gene Ellenson was an assistant coach in the 1960s.

When Spurrier was the head coach at Duke in the late 1980s, he twice had Gene Ellenson give pep talks to his team before traditional rivalry games.

When Spurrier returned to his alma mater in 1990 to become the Gators' head coach, he again invited Gene Ellenson to deliver inspirational talks before big games.

Gene Ellenson was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as an "Honorary Letterwinner" in 1989.

Gene Ellenson died of renal and respiratory failure at North Florida Regional Hospital in Gainesville on March 17,1995, after a long illness.

Gene Ellenson was survived by his wife Jeanne, and their son and daughter.

Florida alumnus and benefactor Alfred McKethan endowed a scholarship in Gene Ellenson's name following his death.