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NATCHITOCHES - Robert Ellis has had an experience most boys dream about, playing major league baseball and being part of a World Series Championship team with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001. Even with that great accomplishment something was missing for Ellis. He had never completed his college degree.

Ellis is working toward earning a bachelor's in general studies through the CALL (Continuum for All Louisiana Learners) Program at Northwestern State University. The program is designed for adults who started but did not complete a college degree. CALL helps working adults take online courses in an accelerated or "fast track" model at their own convenience and even provides college credit for prior education, work and life experiences.

"My father has been an inspiration for me and I promised him back in 1990 when I signed with the Chicago White Sox that I would complete my education," said Ellis, who is a pitching coach in the New York Mets organization. "He became very ill last year and he told me when I went to see him that in baseball I had accomplished a lot as a player but as a coach I needed to continue to learn in order to be a great coach. My father has always stressed education in our family and now that I have returned I definitely understand what he had talked about all of those years."

Ellis also credited a friend, Steve Siler, with encouraging him to return to complete his education.

"Through this process I have learned that I love to learn,"said Ellis.

Ellis said Northwestern staff members Carl Henry, Jennifer Danos, Terrance Vinson and Steve Hicks have been helpful by answering questions, guiding him through the process and serving as motivators.

" can not say enough great things about the CALL program and Northwestern State University," said Ellis. "My education from Northwestern is the very foundation in which I will use in becoming the best baseball coach I can be. I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to get a great education, from a great University, from people who care about our future."

Ellis said the classes he has taken at Northwestern are helping him be a better pitching coach.

"I studied the biomechanics of throwing and have been with some of the greatest strength and conditioning coaches, pitching coaches, and managers in baseball," said Ellis. "Professional baseball has given me a great opportunity to learn from the greatest coaches in the game and Northwestern has provided me an opportunity to understand what I learned and apply this knowledge. I have written a couple of pitching theories one in particular call 'Boards,' This is something I would never have been able to do without my education from Northwestern."

Ellis plans to graduate in December, and then he plans to begin working on a master's degree in adult education.

"I am excited I am able to graduate in December because I will get to walk across the stage and my entire family will be there," said Ellis. "My wife, Jodi, has been a great inspiration along with my three children Aubrie, Morgan, and Duke."

Ellis hopes returning to college can help him reach his career goals.

"I would love to run a college program and have, what I feel, is the perfect formula for winning a national championship," said Ellis, who was also part of four championship teams in the minor leagues and a coach at Tyler Junior College when it won a national title." I would love to run a professional team and win a World Series. By maintaining high standards, setting daily goals that make steps towards those goals, and facilitating this through positive learning environments and with solid routines and championships will come year after year. This will also keep learning and education as the main priority."

News Release
- David West

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