Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, January 8, 1994                   TAG: 9401080058
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CLEMSON, S.C.                                LENGTH: Medium

CLEMSON'S ELLIS QUITS AS COACH

Ellis, saying he needed new challenges, resigned Friday after 10 years at Clemson. He will step down at the end of the season as the winningest coach in school history.

"Cliff Ellis gets satisfaction out of taking a situation and making it revitalized," the coach said tearfully. "That's where I'm at and that's what I want to do."

Ellis said he began questioning his desire during a Christmas trip to the Rainbow Classic in Hawaii. Even a tournament victory over then-No. 19 Oklahoma State didn't erase his doubts.

"If you're thinking it and that doesn't change it, what does?" Ellis asked. Several times during the news conference he cried.

Ellis told athletic director Bobby Robinson of his decision Wednesday night before Clemson's 71-65 loss to No. 3 Duke.

Robinson said he asked Ellis to reconsider until Robinson returned from the NCAA convention, which begins today in San Antonio.

But Ellis told Robinson again Thursday the decision was made. The coach told the team at a hastily called midnight meeting at the apartment of players Devin Gray, Lou Richie and Andre Bovain.

"We sat around trying to figure what it was about," Gray said of the meeting. "We thought he was going to tell us to play with more intensity. [But] no one had any idea about it."

Last season, after the Tigers failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year, Ellis relinquished one of the two remaining years on his $102,000-a-year deal. But Ellis and Robinson said the contract status had nothing to do with the decision.

Robinson said he had a list of potential candidates, but would not start a formal search for Ellis' replacement until after the season.

The Tigers (6-4), who played in the National Invitation Tournament last season, have been erratic this season. A week before beating Oklahoma State, Clemson lost to Davidson.

Ellis has a 165-116 record, three NCAA appearances and four trips to the NIT at Clemson. The Tigers won the ACC regular-season title under Ellis in 1989-90 and advanced to an NCAA East Regional semifinal before losing to Connecticut 71-70.