Ball State University Athletics
Jared Elliott named passing game coordinator/tight ends coach at Ball State
February 08, 2022 | Football
Former Western Illinois head coach joins Ball State staff
MUNCIE, Ind. – Former Western Illinois head coach, Jared Elliott, has been named Ball State's passing game coordinator/tight ends coach, head coach Mike Neu announced Tuesday.
"We are thrilled to welcome Jared Elliott to our coaching staff," Neu said. "He brings with him an outstanding offensive pedigree and will be terrific addition to our offense. Jared is well regarded in the coaching profession and has proven to be a great developer of talent. His experience as a former head coach is invaluable and he attacks each day with a relentless pursuit of excellence. We're fired up to have him and his family join our program."
Elliott spent six seasons at Western Illinois (2016-21), including the last four as head coach. During his four seasons in charge, Elliott developed 16 All-Missouri Valley Conference selections, in addition to 13 honorable mention choices, and six All-Americans.
Five of his players reached the professional ranks, including three who made it to the National Football League: Lance Lenoir (Buffalo Bills), LaCale London (Chicago Bears) and Khalen Saunders (Kansas City Chiefs). He also mentored two who reached the Canadian Football League in Jaelon Acklin (Hamilton Tiger-Cats) and Sean McGuire (Winnipeg Blue Bombers).
Consistently one of the top passing offenses in the Football Championship Subdivision, the Leathernecks broke multiple program records during Elliott's tenure.
Elliott tutored two of the program's top passers in school history in Connor Sampson (2017-21) and McGuire (2015-18). McGuire finished first in total passing yards (9,819), yards per game (223.2), completions (771) and touchdowns (72). Sampson ended his career in first in completion percentage (63 percent), second in completions (732) and fourth in passing yards (7,151).
Elliott's offenses also produced record-setting receivers as Lenoir (2013-16) set the career leader in receptions (273), receiving yards (3,792) and touchdowns (28). Acklin broke the single-season receiving yards mark with 1,369 and yards per game tally of 114.1 in 2017.
The 2021 team broke the program records for passing yards per game (301.0) and completions (315).
In his second stint in Macomb, Ill., Elliott held a variety of roles prior to being named the team's head coach prior to the 2018 season. He was the assistant head coach/passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach/recruiting coordinator upon his arrival in 2016 before being promoted to assistant head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2017.
Elliott spent three seasons as the co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach/recruiting coordinator at Carthage College (D-III) in Kenosha, Wis. from 2013-15 after being Western Illinois' passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2012.
Familiar with the Mid-American Conference, Elliott was a graduate assistant at Miami from 2010-12, working with quarterbacks and tight ends.
He got his start in coaching at Missouri Southern State (D-II) in Joplin, Mo. as the team's wide receivers coach.
A native of Franklin, Tenn., Elliott was a quarterback and wide receiver at Miami from 2004 to 2007 and was part of three MAC championship teams.
Elliott and his wife, Jamie, have four children: Ava, Sadie, Clara and Austin.
"We are thrilled to welcome Jared Elliott to our coaching staff," Neu said. "He brings with him an outstanding offensive pedigree and will be terrific addition to our offense. Jared is well regarded in the coaching profession and has proven to be a great developer of talent. His experience as a former head coach is invaluable and he attacks each day with a relentless pursuit of excellence. We're fired up to have him and his family join our program."
Elliott spent six seasons at Western Illinois (2016-21), including the last four as head coach. During his four seasons in charge, Elliott developed 16 All-Missouri Valley Conference selections, in addition to 13 honorable mention choices, and six All-Americans.
Five of his players reached the professional ranks, including three who made it to the National Football League: Lance Lenoir (Buffalo Bills), LaCale London (Chicago Bears) and Khalen Saunders (Kansas City Chiefs). He also mentored two who reached the Canadian Football League in Jaelon Acklin (Hamilton Tiger-Cats) and Sean McGuire (Winnipeg Blue Bombers).
Consistently one of the top passing offenses in the Football Championship Subdivision, the Leathernecks broke multiple program records during Elliott's tenure.
Elliott tutored two of the program's top passers in school history in Connor Sampson (2017-21) and McGuire (2015-18). McGuire finished first in total passing yards (9,819), yards per game (223.2), completions (771) and touchdowns (72). Sampson ended his career in first in completion percentage (63 percent), second in completions (732) and fourth in passing yards (7,151).
Elliott's offenses also produced record-setting receivers as Lenoir (2013-16) set the career leader in receptions (273), receiving yards (3,792) and touchdowns (28). Acklin broke the single-season receiving yards mark with 1,369 and yards per game tally of 114.1 in 2017.
The 2021 team broke the program records for passing yards per game (301.0) and completions (315).
In his second stint in Macomb, Ill., Elliott held a variety of roles prior to being named the team's head coach prior to the 2018 season. He was the assistant head coach/passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach/recruiting coordinator upon his arrival in 2016 before being promoted to assistant head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2017.
Elliott spent three seasons as the co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach/recruiting coordinator at Carthage College (D-III) in Kenosha, Wis. from 2013-15 after being Western Illinois' passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2012.
Familiar with the Mid-American Conference, Elliott was a graduate assistant at Miami from 2010-12, working with quarterbacks and tight ends.
He got his start in coaching at Missouri Southern State (D-II) in Joplin, Mo. as the team's wide receivers coach.
A native of Franklin, Tenn., Elliott was a quarterback and wide receiver at Miami from 2004 to 2007 and was part of three MAC championship teams.
Elliott and his wife, Jamie, have four children: Ava, Sadie, Clara and Austin.
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