A Labor of Love

Connections are everything in the sporting world. Whether it is the connection between teammates, an athlete and their coach, or even the team and its fans, building genuine relationships is essential in sports.

For long time Aggie radio play-by-play voice, David Ellis, his connection with the Texas A&M soccer team is what drives him and his passion for his volunteer work.

“One of the great things that’s been my pleasure to do is not broadcasting the soccer games, although that’s been fun and I wouldn’t change it for anything,” Ellis said. “But Coach G, Phil Stephenson, Lori Stephenson, Nathan Kogut, Curt Magnuson; these are incredible people and they have become wonderful friends over the years.”

Over the course of over a decade, Ellis has built a long-standing friendship with head coach G Guerrieri.

“Over the years, he’s become one of my closest friends,” Guerrieri said. “And that wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for his kindness and his level of being a real pro in the way that he deals with people.”

In addition to his relationship with the coaching staff, Ellis also has a bond with the players.

“Every year, I feel like I have 24-25 daughters because I love them,” Ellis said. “I’m so happy for them when they do well, on and off the field, and it hurts me when they don’t.”

“We love him,” 2020 SEC Freshman of the Year Barbara Olivieri said. “He’s always there and always at our away games. He’s the best.”

An Aggie himself, Ellis has been around College Station and Texas A&M for decades and has seen the many changes to the city and university.

“I came back to do my master’s and my doctorate, and it had changed a bunch then,” Ellis said. “In terms of the character of the university, it’s not a lot different. It’s still a very special place.”

As an announcer for both local radio broadcasts and the SEC Network+ streaming productions, there are responsibilities that Ellis must fill.

“Whether I’m doing SEC Network or radio stuff, when that camera comes on, we’re on for two hours.” Ellis said. “I can’t take anything back and same way with radio. If I mess up, I’ve got to own it.”

With that responsibility comes a little bit of nervousness.

“I’m always a little nervous before a broadcast,” Ellis said. “If I’m not, then I think maybe I didn’t prepare enough.”

Something that everyone who knows Ellis can agree on is their gratitude towards him and all he does for the soccer program.

“We’re all just really grateful for the time that he spends dedicated to Aggie soccer,” senior forward Ali Russell said. “That does not go unrecognized, and we appreciate it a lot.”

“He works with us purely because of his love for soccer,” Guerrieri said. “He’s a volunteer and the amount of hours and miles and everything else he’s put in for the program has been remarkable.”

Although motivated by his love for soccer, the bonds made during his time in Aggieland are the foundation of Ellis’ passion to continue his impact on the soccer program for years to come.

“It’s the personal relationships, it’s not the soccer,” Ellis said. “I’m emotionally invested in this university and this community, and it means a lot to me because I want to see all of those things succeed.”