Davis leaving Northwestern for Newberry assistant coaching gig
Larry Davis confirmed Thursday that he’s leaving Northwestern High School for the college ranks. Davis will join the coaching staff at Newberry College under head coach Dave Davis.
“Sounds like a law firm, Davis and Davis,” joked the former Trojan coach.
Larry Davis said he’d been approached by colleges on several occasions over the last few years, during which he led Lewisville to a 1A state title and went 31-19 in two seasons at Northwestern. Davis is happy to stay in South Carolina, and will move to Newberry with his wife and twin 11-year-old boys Kendall and Kory.
“I want to be around and watch them come up in middle school and high school,” said Davis.
Davis comes from the storied Dean Smith college basketball coaching tree. He played for Smith for two years at North Carolina before transferring to South Carolina to play for another Smith acolyte, Eddie Fogler. Both have been mentors to Davis, as well as Ohio State assistant coach Dave Dickerson and Fork Union Military Academy coach Fletcher Arritt. Davis’ conversations with Fogler helped him make the decision to join Newberry’s staff.
“His advice to me is keep working hard, keep winning basketball games and really try to make sure these young men that I have a chance to be involved with and coach, make sure they understand life as well as basketball,” said Davis. “Coach Fogler has always been someone I can call.”
Davis recited a Dean Smith maxim - “offense sells tickets, defense wins championships” - when asked what kind of college coach he might be. In addition to the schooling he had as a player, Davis’ coaching career will no doubt be shaped by a 26-year veteran at Newberry, Dave Davis.
“We are thrilled to add Larry Davis to our staff. He is a legend in this state, but he is a humble man and has let none of that go to his head,” said Newberry’s head coach in a press release from the school. “He has been positively influenced by some of best coaches in this game and I would put Coach Fletcher Arritt at Fork Union, (who recently retired) at the top of this list and Coach Smith and Coach Fogler are certainly among the best to ever coach this game. Larry is hard working, cares deeply about kids and will help us immediately both in coaching and in recruiting.”
I’m not getting any younger and I think this is a great opportunity with a great program and a great leader. I’m looking forward to working under him.
Larry Davis is excited to work under veteran head coach Dave Davis at Newberry College
Davis said the departure from Northwestern was bittersweet, though. He thanked principal James Blake and athletic director Lauren West for the chance to coach the Trojan boys.
“I’m sad to leave the team I had coming back this year,” he said. “I’m excited about the opportunity but I’m also sad to leave my kids. I’ve built a lot of beautiful relationships at Northwestern and it’s hard to leave.”
Northwestern can hire district or non-district employee to coach
Northwestern is looking for a basketball coach after Larry Davis’ departure. Trojans athletic director Lauren West said in an email Thursday, “We will hire the best candidate for the position... Be it one that works full time on campus or outside, off-campus.”
This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 12:34 PM with the headline "Davis leaving Northwestern for Newberry assistant coaching gig."