Bio

Originally from Vancouver, Washington, Coach Kellis Dack has been immersed in the game of basketball since the third grade. A lifelong student of the sport, Dack played three years of varsity basketball in high school before continuing her playing career at the University of Redlands, where she competed for four years. Following her senior season of college, Dack felt a strong pull to stay connected to the game. “I knew I had more to give,” she says—leading her to pursue a path in coaching that allows her to mentor, teach, and uplift the next generation of athletes.

Coach Dack enters her fifth year of coaching, with the 2025 season marking her third year at Pierce College. Her coaching journey has included roles as a Graduate Assistant at Pacific Lutheran University, Assistant Coach at Pierce College, Head Coach at Todd Beamer High School, and her current role as Head Coach of the Raiders Women's Basketball team. She also coaches year-round with the NW Blazers AAU program.

Dack holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a Master of Arts in Education, and is currently a high school chemistry teacher. Her proudest coaching moments are rooted in watching her athletes grow—not just on the court, but as individuals.

Dack instills values of humility, energy, respect, and constant growth in her players. “I motivate and support my athletes by getting to know them as more than just players,” she says. “I learn who they are and what their goals are—then work with them to help make those goals a reality.” Her approach is holistic, grounded in relationship-building and a belief in each athlete’s potential both in sport and in life.

Outside of basketball, Coach Dack enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling the world, and visiting loved ones. Her hobbies include photography and baking. She lives by the quote: “Be better than the you, you were yesterday.”

What fuels Dack’s passion for coaching is her players. “Getting to be their coach is one of my greatest pleasures in life,” she says. Her goal is for each athlete to walk away from her program with a deep belief and confidence in themselves—something they can carry for the rest of their lives. “And I hope they know,” she adds, “that I’ll always be in their corner.”