Davis: Whitko's 'Foundation' In Place
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
To have the last name Davis and to be a high school basketball coach has been an unlucky combination.
On March 8, Wawasee varsity boys basketball coach Jerry Davis announced his resignation.
On Tuesday, Whitko varsity girls basketball coach Ray Davis announced his resignation.
The two are not family, but they are related in two ways. Both coached local basketball teams. Both were given two choices: resign or be fired.
With a 48-55 record in his five years, Ray Davis is Whitko's winningest varsity girls basketball coach in school history. What happened to New Jersey coach John Calipari happened to Ray Davis. New coach comes in, new coach enjoys success, and the success builds increased expectations.
In both cases, the programs never reached those expectations. In fact, some may say both took steps backward. Whitko finished above .500 the first two years under Davis but never reached .500 again.
"We just wanted to see the program go in a different direction," Whitko Athletic Director John Mohr said. "It was just time. That makes sense, doesn't it?"
After the season ended, Davis and Mohr reviewed the season and talked about the future. When it looked like his coaching contract would not be renewed, Ray Davis chose to resign. He told Mohr on Monday of this week.
"We had three sectional runners up, but maybe the next step is for someone to come in here and take the program to the next level and win it," Ray Davis said. "If somebody can come in here and do that, good."
Ray Davis met with his players last Friday and told them of his decision to resign as basketball coach. He plans to continue on as a health and phys ed teacher at Whitko High School.
"I'm not gonna rule out anything," Ray Davis said. "I'm leaving my options open. I wouldn't rule out being an assistant coach. If the right situation presents itself, I'd look into it, but I am happy teaching here. I won't jump at any job."
Before he took the Whitko job, Davis, who said he will look into both boys and girls basketball coaching jobs, coached at Argos. He coached the boys JV team for five years and the girls varsity team for two years.
While he does not know what the future holds, he does know about the past and what he did for Whitko's program.
"I enjoyed the five years I've been here," Ray Davis said. "I'm leaving the program with a solid foundation for whoever comes in." [[In-content Ad]]
To have the last name Davis and to be a high school basketball coach has been an unlucky combination.
On March 8, Wawasee varsity boys basketball coach Jerry Davis announced his resignation.
On Tuesday, Whitko varsity girls basketball coach Ray Davis announced his resignation.
The two are not family, but they are related in two ways. Both coached local basketball teams. Both were given two choices: resign or be fired.
With a 48-55 record in his five years, Ray Davis is Whitko's winningest varsity girls basketball coach in school history. What happened to New Jersey coach John Calipari happened to Ray Davis. New coach comes in, new coach enjoys success, and the success builds increased expectations.
In both cases, the programs never reached those expectations. In fact, some may say both took steps backward. Whitko finished above .500 the first two years under Davis but never reached .500 again.
"We just wanted to see the program go in a different direction," Whitko Athletic Director John Mohr said. "It was just time. That makes sense, doesn't it?"
After the season ended, Davis and Mohr reviewed the season and talked about the future. When it looked like his coaching contract would not be renewed, Ray Davis chose to resign. He told Mohr on Monday of this week.
"We had three sectional runners up, but maybe the next step is for someone to come in here and take the program to the next level and win it," Ray Davis said. "If somebody can come in here and do that, good."
Ray Davis met with his players last Friday and told them of his decision to resign as basketball coach. He plans to continue on as a health and phys ed teacher at Whitko High School.
"I'm not gonna rule out anything," Ray Davis said. "I'm leaving my options open. I wouldn't rule out being an assistant coach. If the right situation presents itself, I'd look into it, but I am happy teaching here. I won't jump at any job."
Before he took the Whitko job, Davis, who said he will look into both boys and girls basketball coaching jobs, coached at Argos. He coached the boys JV team for five years and the girls varsity team for two years.
While he does not know what the future holds, he does know about the past and what he did for Whitko's program.
"I enjoyed the five years I've been here," Ray Davis said. "I'm leaving the program with a solid foundation for whoever comes in." [[In-content Ad]]