Ellen Holton enters her second season with the Pioneers in 2020-21.
In Holton’s first year on staff, Denver recorded its third straight season .500 or better overall and in league play with an overall record of 15-15 and a league record of 9-7 as it earned the third seed in the Summit League Championships.
DU capped off the regular season with a six-game win streak under the help of Holton, its longest win streak in eight years. She also helped the Pioneers earn their first victory over South Dakota State since 2015 and first program win in Brookings.
The Pioneers put on a strong offensive showing in Holton’s first year, finishing in the top-20 in the NCAA in four statistical categories. They finished 18th in scoring offense (77.6), 19th in free throw percentage (77.1), third in free throws made (504), and 14th in free throw attempts (654).
DU continued its strong Summit League presence as it finished second in scoring offense (77.6), first in free throw percentage (77.1), third in 3s made per game average (7.2), third in 3-point percentage (33.7), second in steals per game (9.3), second in free throw attempts (654), first in free throws made (504), and first in rebounds (1,264) and rebounds per game (42.1).
It was another record setting year in 2019-20 for Denver as it set a new school record with a free throw percentage of 77.1, while posting the fourth highest scoring average in program history at 77.6. The Pioneers’ offense was one of the hottest in school history, scoring the second most points at 2,328.
Holton was crucial in Madison Nelson’s record setting senior season as she was named First Team All-Summit League. Under Holton’s guidance, Nelson set new program single season records for points (592), rebounds (343), and points per game (19.7). The senior forward became the first player in Denver’s Division I era and only player in the Summit League this season to average a double-double with averages of 19.7 points and 11.4 rebounds per contest.
Holton arrived at the University of Denver after spending three seasons at the University of North Alabama, her last year as an assistant coach. She was promoted to assistant coach in 2018 after serving two years as a graduate assistant.
Prior to North Alabama, she was a graduate assistant at Wheeling Jesuit University with their women’s basketball program. She helped lead the Cardinals to a 27-6 mark, tying the program’s all-time win record. The team advanced to the NCAA tournament for the first time in over a decade.
The Elgin, Illinois native, began her collegiate basketball career at Tusculum College before transferring to Northern Kentucky University for her final three years.
While at Tusculum, Holton helped the Pioneers win the 2010 Regional Championship and advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.
At Northern Kentucky, she was part of Division II for her sophomore and junior season until NKU transitioned to Division I for her senior season. She helped lead the first team in NKU Division I history to post-season play as the team participated in the Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI).
Holton played her high school basketball at Elgin High School where she graduated in 2009.
