A former Major League Baseball pitcher was named the new head coach at one of the top high schools in East Texas.
Robert Ellis, who played parts of four seasons in the majors for four teams - including the Texas Rangers - was named as the new baseball coach at Longview (Texas) High School. His hiring was unanimously approved by the Longview Independent School District’s Board of Trustees in a meeting Monday night.
Please welcome former MLB pitcher Robert Ellis as the new Head Baseball Coach at Longview High School! ⚾️
— Longview ISD (@LongviewISD) June 10, 2025
Let’s give him a big #LOBOUP welcome! @coachjohnking
Full story ➡️ https://t.co/3iVaIz3QJq pic.twitter.com/NLSGVvJJB5
“Coach Ellis brings an excellent brand of professional experience, high school leadership and personal integrity to our baseball program,” Longview ISD Athletic Director John King said. “His commitment to developing student-athletes on and off the field aligns perfectly with the values of our entire athletic program.”
Ellis was drafted in 1990 by the Chicago White Sox out of Northwestern State University in Louisiana and spent more than 12 seasons in professional baseball. He broke into the big leagues in 1996 with the then-California Angels, appearing in three games and pitching a total of five scoreless innings.
In 2001, Ellis resurfaced in the majors with the Arizona Diamondbacks and recorded a 6-5 record with a 5.77 earned run average for a team which eventually won the World Series that season.
The following season, Ellis pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers and had an 0-1 record in three appearances. Ellis’ final MLB season was in 2023 with the Texas Rangers, going 1-1 with an 8.35 ERA in four appearances, all starts.
He finished his big-league career with a 7-7 record and a 6.03 ERA, striking out 54 batters in 118 innings.
Ellis then went into coaching, serving as head coach at another East Texas school, Bullard, from 2021-24 and led the Panthers to several playoff appearances.
“Longview has a rich baseball tradition, and I’m honored to be part of it,” Ellis said. “This program has everything you could ask for: talented athletes, supportive leadership and a community that loves its Lobos.”
Ellis has three children, including a son, Duke, who played at the University of Texas and is currently playing in the New York Yankees’ system. He briefly played for the Yankees and Chicago White Sox in the 2024 season.
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