Ellick named Freedom girls track coach

Posted Oct 12, 2009 by Bill Ward

Updated Oct 12, 2009 at 09:39 AM

Former Wharton High football and track star Dwight Ellick, who went on to play for Notre Dame and in the NFL, has been named girls track coach at Freedom, Patriots athletic director Eli Thomas has confirmed.

Ellick, already an assistant football coach at Freedom, takes over the track squad from Chris McComb, who last spring guided nine girls to the Class 3A state championships. Ellick is a math teacher at Freedom and during Friday’s football game between the Patriots and Tampa Bay Tech said he hoped to take the girls track program “to the next level” this coming season.

McComb stepped down from the position after the season when his Marine Corps reserve unit was called to active duty.

During his senior year at Wharton in 2001, Ellick was the Class 4A state champion in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes. He won the 100 in 10.60 seconds and the 200 in 21.35, which remain school records at Wharton. As a result, Ellick was the Tampa Tribune male track and field Athlete of the Year and winner of the Bill Shields Award, given annually to Hillsborough County’s top track athlete of either gender.

Ellick went on to play defensive back for Notre Dame and signed with the New Orleans Saints as undrafted rookie free agent in 2005. He went on to play for the Washington Redskins and, finally, with the Buccaneers in 2006.