Jim Ellis

For over 50 years, Coach Ellis’ leadership has provided and developed competitive swimming opportunities to a diverse and inclusive community of children, challenging them to meet their potential and bringing to fruition in them his acronym for what once was known as the Philadelphia Department of Recreation and translate it into his values of: PRIDE, DETERMINATION and RESILIENCE. 

Over his career, Jim has been introducing competitive swimming to inner city youth and their families. His coaching and mentoring has provided a healthy and stimulating environment in which the young athletes can grow and compete. Today, PDR Swimming is a nationally recognized competitive swim team, and has become a model for urban swim programs around the country.

Coach Ellis received the President’s Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2019, he was inducted into the International Swim Coaches Association Hall of Fame.