July 1, 2008

Fullerton, Calif. - Steve Ellsberry, a longtime instructor at the club level in the Midwest, has been appointed assistant women's gymnastics coach at Cal State Fullerton.

Ellsberry has 30 years of experience coaching both boys and girls in Ohio and Indiana from pre-school through recreational programs to elites. His athletes have included several eventual national team members and Olympians Amanda Borden and Mohini Bhardwaj. He replaces Mace Patterson, who resigned in April after two years as an assistant to Head Coach Jill Hicks.

A gymnast at LSU and Indiana State in the early 1980s, Ellsberry returned to college and obtained his bachelors degree in May at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. He has been a USAG professional member since 1983.

"This is something that's been in my mind for about 10 years and now it's happened so fast," said Ellsberry, who also has owned gymnastics clubs. "It's a great opportunity. Going back to college was a present for my parents so I wouldn't be the only one in the family without a degree. And I knew if I was going to be considered for a college job, I had to have it."