Father/Daughter Duo: Upton Named Pitching Coach at WC

Vicksburg, Miss.-Chandler Ellis-Upton has now been added to the softball staff at Warren Central High School. She is the daughter of WC Head Coach Brian Ellis who is in his second year with the program.

“When the opportunity came up, I went for it but it was all God’s timing and my dad knows that I’m knowledgeable about the game and my husband encouraged me to get back into the game,” Upton said. “I’m excited for this season and to be back coaching on this level.”

Before stepping away from coaching last year, Upton spent four years as the Porter’s Chapel Academy Head Softball Coach. In her first year as Head Coach, she led the Lady Eagles to a state championship appearance where they were undefeated in the district and won the South State Tournament.

Before starting her coaching career, Upton was a star softball player at Vicksburg High School where her father was her Head Coach. She also played on the Missy Gators’ basketball team.

After graduating from VHS in 2014, Upton signed to pitch at East Mississippi Community College where she spent two years with the Lions. She then became the first Warren County softball athlete to sign with a Division 1 program since they added fast-pitch softball in 1999. Upton went on to play at Mississippi Valley State University. 

Now that Upton has made her way back to Warren County, she will be able to live her dream of coaching alongside her dad who is just as excited.

“Watching her work with the pitchers shows her true knowledge of the game,” Ellis said. “She knows a lot of these girls and everything has been going good and she’s put in a lot of work to get to this point.”

Upton will now be working with the pitchers at WC and their official season will begin next week.