Joe Ellison returns as Program Advisor

As we usher in the New Year and another exciting upcoming year of Ontario Blue Jays Baseball, we are thrilled to be welcoming back a prominent face to the organization in a new but familiar role. Longtime Ontario Blue Jay, Joe Ellison will be returning to the program in the role of our Program Advisor.

A new unique role for someone who has spent almost two decades a part of the Ontario Blue Jays organization between playing and coaching. Ellison joined OBJ in the Fall of 2005 as a player, moving through the organization over the next four years. Ellison played pivotal roles during his time with OBJ including winning the first game in OBJ History at the AABC 16U Mickey Mantle World Series and throwing a No-Hitter at the WWBA 18U World Championships in Jupiter, Florida. Ellison graduated the program in 2009 accepting a scholarship to Cisco College (Cisco, Texas). He would go on to transfer to both Connors State College (Warner, Oklahoma) where he was named 2nd Team All-Conference Starting Pitcher before moving to South Dakota State University (Brookings, South Dakota) in 2011-12.

During his time continuing his playing career at the collegiate level, Joe returned each Summer to serve as a Pitching Coach with the program, highlighted by two Summers coaching at the 17U level alongside fellow OBJ Alumni, Jamie Pogue (current St. Louis Cardinals Bullpen Coach). After suffering a career ending shoulder injury during his Junior Year, Joe returned to the program in a full-time role as Pitching Coordinator in the Fall of 2012.For the next decade, Ellison worked his way up the organization hierarchy from Pitching Coordinator to Recruiting Coordinator before taking on the Director of Baseball Operations title in 2015-16. In the Fall of 2019, Joe was named President & General Manager of the Ontario Blue Jays and The Athlete Matrix (former Home of the Ontario Blue Jays) a position he held until 2021. During that decade, he served as the Head Coach of a variety of teams including: 15U, 16U, 18U and the Collegiate Fall Roster. During his time with OBJ as a coach, Joe has had the opportunity to be a part of hundreds of players careers as they graduate onto collegiate and professional opportunities including some notable OBJ Alumni.

In the Fall of 2022, Ellison moved to the collegiate level accepting a role of Recruiting Coordinator at McPherson College located in McPherson, Kansas alongside fellow former Ontario Blue Jay, Kyle MacKinnon (McPherson College Head Coach). Later that year, the Bulldogs took home their first KCAC Tournament Championship in school history before moving on to the NAIA National Regionals in Shreveport, Louisiana. For his efforts, Ellison was nominated for NAIA Ball Assistant Coach of the Year playing a pivotal role throughout the year.

Later that Summer, Ellison began his two Summer stints as the Field Manager for the Fort McMurray Giants in the Western Canadian Baseball League. As a surprise to no one, rosters in Fort McMurray saw their fair share of Ontario Blue Jays Alumni alongside more strong talent from Ontario, Canada and beyond. Ellison currently holds the Single-Season Wins Record for the Giants Organization with 30 in 2023.

The next stop, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma located in Chickasha, Oklahoma in the Fall of 2024. During his first season as Recruiting Coordinator and Pitching Coach, Ellison helped lead the Drovers to a 2025 SAC Tournament Championship and a NAIA National Regional birth in Lincoln, Nebraska. In addition, the Drovers pitching staff finished 10th in the NAIA in WHIP and 20th in ERA while leading the Sooner Athletic Conference in several categories.

This past Summer, Ellison made the jump to the top of the collegiate Summer ranks being named the Field Manager for the Thunder Bay Border Cats in the Northwoods League. During his first Summer at the helm, the Border Cats won 40 games for the first time since 2009 and captured sole possession of the 2nd Most Single-Season Wins in Franchise History. Ellison has since signed a three-year contract extension with the Border Cats in hopes of bringing a Northwoods Championship back to Thunder Bay. 

Speaking on his role as Program Advisor, Ellison said "I could not be more excited to be back with the program and in this new role moving forward. I have always been so grateful for my time with the organization and although leaving the program was one of the toughest decisions I've made, it has lead me to some incredible places and inevitably back again but in a different role with new challenges. I hope to hit the ground running alongside this great group of coaches and the leadership group assembled to continue to offer the OBJ Family with an incredible experience both within the walls of the program but beyond as well. The Ontario Blue Jays have always been a leader in the amateur baseball community in North America and we will continue to work tirelessly to continue that moving forward."

Ellison will continue his roles with the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and the Thunder Bay Border Cats while re-joining the Ontario Blue Jays this Spring and throughout the 2026-2027 OBJ season. He will focus on assisting in a variety of roles administratively including college placement and future growth initiatives for the program.