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    Grand Canyon adds Ellis, Stith to coaching staff

    Grand Canyon head wrestling coach Jon Sioredas announced the addition of Mark Ellis and Brian Stith to his initial coaching staff at GCU.

    Sioredas, who became the program's head coach in August, is leading the Antelopes into their second year at the NCAA Division I level.

    "I am excited to announce the hiring of two superstar coaches. Both coach Ellis and coach Stith have not only competed on the big stage, but have also coached Top 10 programs," said Sioredas.

    "The experience these two bring to Grand Canyon University is immeasurable. Both wrestled on ESPN Prime Time Saturday night in front of millions of people. Having been there at the highest collegiate level is huge in getting our guys to buy into what is needed to be done," added the head coach.

    Ellis, a 2009 NCAA National Champion at the University of Missouri, has joined GCU as head assistant coach. He comes to GCU after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Missouri.

    In 2013-14, Ellis was instrumental in the success at Chattanooga, helping guide the Mocs to a Top 20 dual meet ranking. In 2012-13, Ellis helped lead Missouri to a seventh place team finish with five All-Americans at the NCAA Division I National Tournament.

    Stith, a two-time All-American and National Finalist at Arizona State spent the previous seven seasons as an assistant at his alma mater.

    While coaching at ASU, Stith helped develop four NCAA All-Americans and two NCAA National Champions. In 2011, he helped guide the team to a sixth place finish at the NCAA tournament.

    "These guys understand the process of becoming great, both on the mat and in the classroom. More importantly, they understand the third dimension of coaching, which is coaching character," Sioredas said.

    The Antelopes begin their season with the annual Purple-Black Wrestle-Offs to be held outdoors on campus at the Promenade Nov. 5 at 1 p.m.

    For more on Sioredas and the program's upcoming season, click here for a video interview with GCU’s Michael Potter.

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