A native of Brevard, North Carolina, Ellenberger was a standout at Brevard High School and a two-time state champion under Coach Rex Wells. Ellenberger helped Brevard win a state championship and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the state tournament in 1985. After high school, Ellenberger was a scholarship wrestler and starter at UNC Chapel Hill from 1987 to 1991. After graduating from Chapel Hill with a degree in Administration of Justice in December, Ellenberger began a 30-year law enforcement career with the High Point Police Department. In 1992, while working security at a High Point Central High School basketball game, Ellenberger met Central’s wrestling coach Andy Chappell, who invited him to work out with the team. This launched a coaching partnership with Chappell that has been going strong now for 29 years. Coaching at High Point Central (1993-1995), Ragsdale (1995-2010) and Ledford (2010-present), Ellenberger mentored 14 individual state champions to 20 individual state championships. He's also coached five state championship teams including dual team and tournament titles at High Point Central (1994) along with tournament (1997, (2005) and dual team (2004) titles at Ragsdale.  In 2010, Ellenberger founded the High Point Wrestling Club and in 2014 was named the Assistant Wrestling Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.  Retiring from law enforcement in 2020 as a Captain in the Major Crime Deterrence and Prevention Division, Ellenberger continues to run the High Point Wrestling Club and currently works at Ledford High School in a full-time substitute teaching position. Living in High Point, Ellenberger has two sons, Carter and Cael.