Temple University Athletics
BILL ELLERBEE TO BE INDUCTED INTO PHILADELPHIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME
1.5.06 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA -Temple University men's basketball assistant coach Bill Ellerbee will be one of 15 individuals inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame when the third class is enshrined on April 6. Ellerbee joins Temple head coach John Chaney and the late Guy Rodgers, who were inducted last year.
Also being enshrined in 2006 are Al Simmons, Anne Townsend, Del Ennis, Don Bragg, Gene Hart, Hal Greer, Helen Sigel Wilson, Herb Adderley, Jack Ramsay, Joe Fulks, Ray Didinger, Reggie Jackson, Roy Campanella, Willie Mosconi, The 1960 NFL Champion Philadelphia Eagles and The Palestra (Venue Enshrinement).
Ellerbee is entering the Hall based on his lifetime commitment to the game at basketball, primarily from his tenure as Simon Gratz's head coach. In his 20 years at the helm of the Philadelphia Public League power (1982-2002), he guided the Bulldogs to a 452-100 record (.819). Gratz appeared in 20 consecutive playoff tournaments, qualified for 12 title games and won six championships.
In 1990-91, Simon Gratz posted a record of 27-1 and was crowned the mythical national champion in the final ESPN high school poll. In the 1992-93 campaign, the Bulldogs achieved absolute perfection with a 31-0 mark, and were again tabbed national champions by USA Today.
Among the many accomplishments of his program at Simon Gratz were its 107-game regular season Public League winning streak and a 134-game overall winning streak, including playoffs. He coached 11 Daily News All-City players, including former Owls Aaron McKie, Levan Alston and Lynard Stewart. Ellerbee was named the Philadelphia Public League Coach of the Year in 1991, the State of Pennsylvania Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1997, and National Coach of the Year by ESPN and USA Today in 1993. He is a three-time Hall of Fame inductee, including the Rotary Club of Latrobe, Pa., the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Beach Ball Classic, and Five-Star Camps International.
Ellerbee began his professional career in the Philadelphia Public Schools as a mathematics instructor at Simon Gratz in 1970, and continued to teach the course until his retirement in June 2002. He served for 31 years as an Assistant Recreation Leader with the City of Philadelphia Department of Recreation. In 1988, he was a co-founder and served for five years as deputy director of Total Response, Inc., a non-profit organization committed to the development and coordination of youth motivational programs through athletics.
