Grace tabs Davis as next women’s basketball head coach

Grace College is pleased to announce Dan Davis as the next head coach for the Lady Lancers’ women’s basketball program.

Davis is fresh off a successful 10-year stint at Auburn University-Montgomery. As the head women’s basketball coach at AUM, he led the Warhawks to a pair of appearances at the NAIA Division I National Tournament. He was also named the Coach of the Year in the Southern States Athletic Conference.

“I am truly honored and humbled to be the next women’s basketball head coach at Grace. I want to thank Chad Briscoe and Dr. Bill Katip for entrusting me with this program. In the interview process it was obvious to feel their passion, energy, and enthusiasm for the Lord, Grace College, the student-athletes, student body and mission of Grace,” Davis said. “I can’t wait to meet the team face-to-face and start building the kind of relationships it will take to be champions on and off the court.”

Davis recruited and coached five All-American players while at AUM, most notably the 2015-16 NAIA National Player of the Year (Jatoria Carter).

In the Warhawks’ final two years in the NAIA before transitioning to NCAA Division II, Davis led AUM to a record of 23-10 in 2015-16 and 21-10 in 2014-15.

“We are very excited to have Coach Davis lead our women’s basketball program. He comes with a very extensive, successful background at the NAIA level. He has a heart for Christian excellence and a desire to impact and shape lives through the game of basketball,” said Grace Director of Athletics Chad Briscoe. “His background both as a player and college coach fits the mission at Grace College. His passion and his strong commitment to character development will serve him well in this new role. We look forward to Dan, his wife Christi and their children joining our Grace family.”

Prior to AUM, Davis served as the athletic director and girls’ basketball coach at Providence Christian Academy in Lilburn, Ga., as well as the boys’ basketball coach at Grayson High School in Grayson, Ga.

Davis graduated from AUM in 1999 after studying social sciences and secondary education. He played for four seasons on AUM’s men’s basketball team, helping the team win conference and NAIA region championships and advancing to NAIA Nationals.

“We want to graduate our student-athletes, win games, do things with integrity and build champions for Christ who make a difference in the community and on campus,” Davis continued. “We will be working hard to get the basketball alumni involved and provide an exciting brand of basketball to watch. My family and I are thrilled and excited to be joining the Grace family and Winona Lake/Warsaw community.”

Davis and his wife Christi have four children: Abigail, Cooper, and twins Nash and Tate.