Tyler Ellis is in her seventh year on the UC Irvine women's basketball staff and fourth as an assistant coach in 2024-25.
Last year, the Anteaters went 21-10 overall for their fourth-straight 20-win campaign. They finished second in the Big West (15-5) and made an appearance in the semifinals of the Big West Championship. UCI also ranked among the top-10 in the nation in field goal percentage defense and scoring defense.
In 2023-24, the 'Eaters won the Big West Championship for the second time in program history and earned a No. 13 seed in their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1995. UC Irvine, which closed out the campaign with a 23-9 overall record (16-4 Big West), ranked 23rd in the final College Insider Women’s Mid-Major Poll. The Anteaters were also among the nation’s best in scoring defense (14th, 55.7 ppg). UCI claimed three major Big West Awards, taking home Player of the Year (Déja Lee), Newcomer of the Year (Moulayna Johnson Sidi Baba) and Best Defensive Player (Diaba Konate).
In Ellis’ first season as an assistant coach in 2022-23, the ‘Eaters won the program's first Big West regular-season title and advanced to the second round of the WNIT. UC Irvine set school records in overall wins (25), conference wins (16) and scoring defense. The Anteaters’ 53.2 points allowed per game ranked seventh in the nation. UCI also came in at No. 23 in the final College Insider Women's Mid-Major Poll.
Ellis spent the previous three seasons as UC Irvine's Director of Women's Basketball Operations. In 2021-22, UC Irvine tied a then school record with 21 wins. The Anteaters advanced to the finals of the Big West Championship for the second year in a row and received the league's automatic berth to the postseason WNIT.
In 2020-21, Ellis, who was responsible for travel arrangements and scheduling, helped the 'Eaters not only have a season during the pandemic, but also helped them to their first conference tournament final since 1997. They finished the shortened campaign at 15-9 (11-4 Big West).
Since Ellis joined the staff in 2019, UC Irvine has won a Big West tournament and regular-season championship, produced four 20-win campaigns and made three national postseason tournament appearances. The Anteaters have also gone 69-26 overall and 47-11 in conference since she was elevated to an assistant coach.
Ellis played four years at New Mexico State (2013-17), leading the Aggies to three consecutive Western Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles. She was team captain as a senior on the 2016-17 championship squad.
During her time as a student-athlete in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Ellis assisted with women's basketball team camps. She was also an assistant at the AAU level for JBS Basketball Club, working with player development and providing mentorship for college preparation. In addition, she served as a volunteer assistant with the girls' basketball program at Antelope High School in Northern California.
