Nick Saban’s coaching staff at the University of Alabama is finalized, and the latest addition was hired prior to the start of spring practice. On Thursday, Ellis Ponder was promoted to director of football operations.
Ponder, who served as associate director for two years, takes over for Justin Dickens.
As the director of football operations, Ponder has been tasked with overseeing the operational and organizational aspects of the Crimson Tide football program.
“The University of Alabama has always been very special to me and I am looking forward to my expanded role,” Ponder said. “Coach Saban is the best in the nation at running a football program and I truly appreciate the opportunity and his trust in me to serve as the director of football operations.”
Prior to being hired at Alabama, Ponder helped manage sporting events with the Bruno Event Team in Birmingham (Ala.) that included the Regions Tradition, which is a major on the PGA Champions Tour, the PGA Tour’s BMW Championship, 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.
He holds two degrees from UA, earning his undergraduate degree in business administration in 2010 before getting his master’s degree in marketing in 2011.
***All information above comes via press release from UA’s athletic department of communications***
Stephen M. Smith is a managing editor and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
