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Penn State DuBois athletic director Ken Nellis (right) was awarded the Robert J. Scannell Roll of Honor by PSUAC Commissioner Ryan Ehrie in May for his many contributions to the conference over his 16 years with the University.
Penn State DuBois athletic director Ken Nellis (right) was awarded the Robert J. Scannell Roll of Honor by PSUAC Commissioner Ryan Ehrie in May for his many contributions to the conference over his 16 years with the University.
Penn State DuBois athletic director Ken Nellis (right) was awarded the Robert J. Scannell Roll of Honor by PSUAC Commissioner Ryan Ehrie in May for his many contributions to the conference over his 16 years with the University.
Posted: Jun 15, 2026

Longtime Penn State DuBois Athletic Director Ken Nellis Honored with Scannell Award

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State DuBois athletic director Ken Nellis was awarded the 2026 Robert J. Scannell Roll of Honor in May at the PSUAC Baseball and Softball Championships. The Scannell Award is presented annually to an administrator, coach, faculty or staff member who has contributed significantly to the Penn State University Athletic Conference and their campus. 

Nellis, who began his tenure at DuBois in 2010, has created a department that has grown significantly during his time in central Pennsylvania. Nellis oversaw the formation of the baseball and softball programs, as well as cross country, to add to the existing men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball and golf programs. 

The baseball team became the crown jewel of the department, capturing five PSUAC championships as well as four United States Collegiate Athletic Association Small College World Series titles since the program's inception in 2015. The four USCAA crowns all came in front of a home crowd at Showers Field, as the City of DuBois began hosting the USCAA National Championship in 2018.

Under Nellis, DuBois has won 10 PSUAC Championships, including men's basketball in 2012, golf in 2013, 2017 and 2018, and most recently in softball in 2025.

 

A leader in the PSUAC, Nellis has chaired or served on multiple committees, including the Competition and Ethics Committee, baseball, cross country, golf and men's basketball. His department has hosted all or parts of seven PSUAC Baseball and Softball Championships since 2018, with Nellis and his staff supporting the events.

Before his time at DuBois, Nellis was a wrestler for the Division I program at Clarion University before eventually becoming the head coach there. A standout wrestler from the Pittsburgh area, Nellis started the wrestling program at DuBois and served as the tournament director for the USCAA Wrestling Invitational during its existence. 

Nellis has led his department to five top-5 Chancellor's Cup finishes since 2015, despite not offering the full complement of PSUAC Championship sports. The Chancellor's Cup measures a comprehensive excellence across an athletic department. 

Nellis has also been recognized nationally, having been named the USCAA Administrator of the Year for his efforts hosting events and serving on committees, along with his department's athletic excellence.