Region 5: Mike Ellson, CMAA

​​Mike Ellson is the Athletic Director at Christ Presbyterian Academy (CPA), a preschool through 12th grade independent school in Nashville, Tennessee, with a current enrollment of approximately 1,300 students. He began teaching at CPA in 1987 and has served as the only Athletic Director for the Academy. Ellson oversees the athletics program, focused on character development and personal growth, and continues to seek opportunities to mentor coaches and students alike.  In his thirty-first year at CPA, Ellson has coached sports at the middle school and high school level including cross-country, baseball, soccer, track, and basketball.  He was a varsity head boys basketball coach for twelve years and a varsity head girls basketball coach for three.  Ellson was selected as a TSSAA Athletic Director of the Year twice, District basketball coach of the year twice, county coach of the year once, and his teams won over 250 games during his coaching career.
 
Ellson’s love for athletics began during his high school career while a student at New Castle Chrysler High School in New Castle, Indiana. Mike’s Athletic Director, Frank Koveleski, demonstrated professionalism with a positive attitude while managing events at the largest high school gymnasium in America with a seating capacity of nearly 10,000. Mr. Koveleski modeled characteristics that helped inspire Ellson’s professional pursuit of education through athletics.
 
Ellson has been involved with the TIAAA since 1992 and has attended all but one Tennessee State Athletic Directors Conference. Areas of service through his years with the TIAAA include: elected board member, LTI State Coordinator, conference planning committee member, workshop presenter, LTI Course Instructor, offices of President-Elect, President, Past-President,  and Ex Officio member of both the TSSAA Board of Control and Legislative Council.  Ellson currently serves as the Executive Director for Tennessee. 
 
During Ellson’s tenure as president, he initiated a monthly newsletter for improved member communication, promoted NIAAA National Membership growth, and proposed (and received approval for) the NIAAA professional outreach program for 2016. In addition, Ellson served on the 2007 National Host Committee and served as Chairman of the Tennessee Host Committee for the NFHS/NIAAA National Athletic Directors Conference in December 2016.
 
Ellson is a National LTI faculty member having team-taught multiple classes for several years. He has completed over forty LTI courses, nearly thirty NFHS Learn Courses (is also a Certified Interscholastic Coach), presented workshops, served as a moderator, is a Certified Test Administrator, Chapel Service Facilitator, received the NIAAA State Award of Merit, was a member of the operations team of the NIAAA Fourth Strategic Planning Committee, and recently served on the NFHS/NIAAA Blue Ribbon Panel. 
 
Ellson finds his involvement with the TIAAA and NIAAA highly rewarding and further seeks to have the opportunity to make an impact on the next generation of athletic leaders wherever service opportunities are possible. 
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Schools Served:
​Antioch, Beech, Big Picture, Cane Ridge, CPA, Clarksville, Clarksville Aca, Davidson Aca, DCA, East Nashville, East Robertson, Ensworth, Ezell-Harding, Father Ryan, FRA, Gallatin, Glencliff, Goodpasture, Greenbrier, Harpeth Hall, Hendersonville, Hendersonville Chr., Hillsboro, Hillwood, Hume-Fogg, Hunters Lane, Jo Byrns, John Overton, Kenwood, KIPP: Nashville, LEAD Aca, Lipscomb Aca., Macon Co., Maplewood, McGavock, Merrol Hyde, MBA, Montgomery Central, Nashville Chr., N. MLK, N. Middle College, N. Virtual, Nashville Arts, Northeast, Northwest, Pearl Cohn, Pope John Paul II, Portland, Red Boiling Spr., Rossview, Springfield, St. Cecilia, Station Camp, Stewart Co, Stratford, TSB, Trousdale Co, USN, West Creek, Westmoreland, White House, White House Heritage, Whites Creek