Football
- Title:
- Associate Athletics Director, Football Chief Operating Officer
- Phone:
- 205-348-3600
Ellis Ponder is in his fifth year as Alabama's Associate Athletics Director, Football Chief Operating Officer and his seventh year with the program. He was elevated to the director of football operations role in February of 2017 after spending the 2015 and 2016 seasons as the Crimson Tide's associate director of football operations.
His primary role with the Crimson Tide is to oversee all day-to-day organizational and operational aspects of the Alabama football program. Ponder provides oversight and direction for the football program in all off-field areas including the management of football operating budget, operations and all team travel. Ponder also serves as the football program's liaison to athletic administration.
During his two years as associate director of football operations, Ponder also assisted with all team travel, logistics and the day-to-day operations of the football program.
A native of Fairhope, Ala., he spent the previous four years as an event director for the Bruno Event Team in Birmingham, Ala. Ponder helped manage a wide array of sporting events during his time with the Bruno Event Team, including the Regions Tradition, which is a major on the PGA Champions Tour, and the PGA Tour's BMW Championship.
During his time with the Bruno Event Team, he also helped organize and run the SEC Baseball Tournament, the SEC Women's Golf Championship, the SEC and NCAA Gymnastics Championships, the NCAA College Cup, CrossFit Games, the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, the Magic City Classic and a wide range of Alabama High School Athletic Association events across the state.
While in school at the Capstone, Ponder served as a student assistant in the Crimson Tide football equipment room from 2006 through the spring of 2011. His last four years in the role he was assigned to offensive line coach Joe Pendry, assisting at daily practices while also working the 2006 and 2007 Independence Bowls, the 2009 Sugar Bowl, 2010 BCS National Championship Game at the Rose Bowl and the 2011 Capital One Bowl.
Ponder holds two degrees from The University of Alabama, finishing his undergraduate degree in business administration in 2010 before completing his master's degree in marketing in 2011.
