Roz Ellis is in her third year as assistant coach at the University of Iowa.
During the 2019 season, Ellis helped the Hawkeyes to their 13th Big Ten Regular Season Championship, sixth Big Ten Tournament title, and 17th Elite Eight appearance in program history. Iowa’s coaching staff was named NFHCA West Region Coaching Staff of the Year for the second consecutive season after recording a 17-5 record. Ellis contributed to the mentorship of two NFHCA All-Americans, five NFHCA All-West Region honorees, and three All-Big Ten selections. Senior Katie Birch was named Big Ten Tournament MVP, and fellow senior Sophie Sunderland and sophomore Lokke Stribos were named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team. Junior forward Maddy Murphy, a second team NFHCA All-American, led the Hawkeyes in goals (12), assists (13), and points (37), Stribos ranked second in goals (10) and total points (25), and Birch tabbed third in total points (24), tallying seven goals and 10 assists. Iowa’s defense allowed only 1.23 goals per game along with four shutouts.
In 2018, Ellis helped lead Iowa to a 14-7 record capped off with a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the 23rd time in program history. The Hawkeyes used a mid-season six-game win streak and a Big Ten Tournament runner-up finish to receive an at-large NCAA Tournament bid against Wake Forest. Ellis and the Hawkeyes coaching staff were named NFHCA West Region Coaching Staff of the Year. Ellis was instrumental in six Hawkeyes garnering postseason accolades. Sophomore Maddy Murphy, who led Iowa with 13 goals and 33 points, was a NFHCA third All-American, NFHCA first team All-West Regional selection, and a first team All-Big Ten selection. Junior Katie Birch led the team in assists (10) to earn NFHCA second team All-America honors, NFHCA first team All-West Region honors, and second team All-Big Ten honors. Sophie Sunderland, a second team All-Big Ten selection, joined freshman Anthe Nijziel and Ellie Holley as NFHCA second team All-West Regional selections. Iowa’s 14 wins in 2018 were the most since 2011.
Ellis was the associate field hockey coach at Temple University since 2015. Prior to coaching at Temple, she was an assistant coach at the University of Louisville for a year in 2014 where the Cardinals finished 15-6 and made the NCAA Tournament.
Before coaching at Louisville, Ellis was the top assistant field hockey coach at the University of Massachusetts. In her three years at UMass (2011-14), she helped build a field hockey powerhouse in the Atlantic 10 Conference. In 2012 and 2013, she helped lead the team to a 34-14 record, including two A10 Conference Championships and two NCAA Tournament Appearances.
Her coaching career began at Appalachian State University in 2009 as an assistant coach, followed by a one-year stay at Wake Forest University as a volunteer assistant coach where the Demon Deacons made the NCAA Tournament.
Before coaching, Ellis had a standout career while playing at the University of Iowa from 2005-08. In four years, she started all 83 games of her career, scored 14 goals on 53 shots, and recorded 11 assists. As an anchor of the Hawkeye defense, her play on the pitch garnered many notable accolades.
In 2007 as a junior, Ellis was a third team All-American by WomensFieldHockey.com, a NFHCA second team All-Regional selection, a first team All-Big Ten selection, an academic All-Big Ten selection, and a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award winner. Ellis played a key role in helping lead Iowa to back-to-back Big Ten Tournament Championships and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
In 2008 as a senior and team captain, Ellis was a first team All-Big Ten honoree, a NFHCA second team All-American, first team NFHCA All-West Regional selection, a NCAA All-Tournament team selection, and a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award winner. Her senior year marked Iowa’s third straight Big Ten Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. This year also marked Iowa’s first Final Four appearance since 1999. Ellis helped lead Iowa to two wins in the NCAA Tournament before falling to #1 Maryland 2-1 in double overtime.
Following her collegiate career, Ellis was a member of the Women’s National Championship Tournament (HPC) from 2006-2011 as well as the Old Alexandra Club in Dublin, Ireland, in 2010.
Her coaching experience experience extends beyond the college ranks. Ellis gained USA Field Hockey Level 2 Coaching Certification in 2011 and 2017 and was a part of the Level II Women’s National Team Coaching Forum from 2014-17.
Most recently, Ellis was an assistant coach for the USA Field Hockey Women’s National Development Team in 2017-18.
A Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, native, Ellis graduated from the University of Iowa in 2009 with a bachelor of arts degree in English. She has four older siblings — Josh, Lauren, Erin, and Evan — and is the daughter of Darcie Hostetler and Peter Ellis.