OVERLAND PARK, Kan. | Former Grambling State University baseball head coach Wilbert Ellis is set to receive another career honor as he will be enshrined into the College Baseball Hall of Fame by the College baseball Foundation on Thursday, Feb. 13.
The 17th induction class will be honored at the Night of Champions presented by
Prairiefire on Feb. 13, 2025 in Overland Park, Kan., the home of the College Baseball Hall of Fame. The event will serve as the ceremonial start to the 2025 college baseball season, which begins Feb. 14, 2025.
Ellis spent 43 years coaching the Tigers, assuming the head coaching role in 1977 upon the retirement of R.W.E. Jones. Ellis amassed a 701-478-2 career record in 26 seasons as head coach, retiring following the 2003 season. Ellis, who had his No. 31 jersey retired last season, led GSU to three SWAC Championships and guided the Tigers to three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Previously, Ellis has been inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, the SWAC Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the Grambling Legends Hall of Fame.
He has been a trusted advisor for generations of presidents, athletic directors and coaches at Grambling, and in community and governmental affairs. Ellis was instrumental in the establishment of the Eddie G. Robinson Museum in Grambling, and the university's Grambling Legends sports hall of fame. He still conducts baseball clinics for kids in Lincoln Parish and serves as an NCAA Regional site supervisor.
THE 2024 COLLEGE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS
- Mike Schmidt, Shortstop, Ohio, 1969-71
- Roger Clemens, Pitcher, San Jacinto JC, 1981/University of Texas, 1982-83
- Mark Teixeira, Third Base, Georgia Tech, 1999-2001
- Bill Thom, Pitcher, Southern California, 1957-59
- Jeff King, Third Base, Arkansas, 1984-86
- Woody Hunt, Coach, Cumberland, 1982-2021
- *Murray Wall, Pitcher, UTexas, 1947-50
- Wilbert Ellis, Coach, Grambling State, 1977-2003
- Randy Ross, Shortstop, North Park, 1981-84
- *Jim Paronto, Umpire/Administrator, 1973-2023
- Mike Fox, Coach, North Carolina Wesleyan, 1983-1998/North Carolina, 1999-2020
* Will be inducted posthumously
About the College Baseball Hall of Fame
Each year, more than 190 representatives nationwide vote on the College Baseball Hall of Fame induction class. The voting body is comprised of national and regional college baseball media, active and retired coaches, former players, former inductees, college baseball historians and members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) collegiate baseball committee. The College Baseball Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 2006. Since that time, 165 players, coaches, umpires, administrators and contributors have been selected for induction. Click
here for a full list of College Baseball Hall of Fame classes.
About the College Baseball Foundation
The College Baseball Foundation's purpose is to preserve, elevate and advance the game; to inspire the next generation; to teach those who love college baseball about its rich history and traditions; to celebrate those who make college baseball special; and to honor those who have come before us and built the foundation upon which college baseball thrives today.
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