Chad Davis has had a dynamic career in volleyball, marked by notable achievements and significant challenges. His journey includes successes at various levels, from high school to NCAA Division I, but also controversies that have tested his resilience and reputation.
Here's a comprehensive look at his career:
Early Career and Allegations
In September 2006, Chad Davis resigned from his position as a teacher and head girl's volleyball coach at Lawton Chiles High School in Tallahassee. This resignation followed an investigation that found evidence of "inappropriate statements of a sexually sensitive nature to at least three students," allowing two female students to stay the night at his house, and using profanity in front of students.
Davis also resigned in 2003 from a coaching position at Mount Olive College in North Carolina after dating an adult student. The investigation in Leon County also mentioned that Davis was dating and living with a former player from his team of 18-year-old women in Sebastian, Fla., when he moved to Tallahassee.
Davis denied making sexually suggestive comments to students and claimed the allegations stemmed from a parent upset that her daughter was cut from his team. He acknowledged that two of his team members stayed the night at his house. He said the students had called his girlfriend at the time from a party where they had been drinking and asked for a place to stay.
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Despite the allegations, Davis found support. Numerous parents of volleyball players from both Tallahassee and Gainesville expressed their support. Parents said he called a team meeting at the beginning of last year's season and told parents about the allegations.
Superintendent Dan Boyd, Gainesville High School Principal Wiley Dixon and GHS athletic director Cindy Boulware also supported Davis. Boulware said, "If I didn't trust him with my daughter, he wouldn't be back here coaching with me."
Coaching Roles and Successes
Despite the controversies, Davis continued to pursue his coaching career.
Gainesville High School and Club Volleyball
In 2006, Davis returned to Gainesville High School as an assistant volleyball coach and also started coaching for a club volleyball league in January. He coached the 14-year-old Gainesville Juniors Club Volleyball team last season and will be the coach this season for the 15-year-old squad.
P.K. Yonge
Prior he coached at P.K. Yonge in Gainesville for three seasons. Davis posted an 89-5 record with back-to-back state championships in 2014 and 2015 when he was named Florida Coach of the Year. Davis also was Class 3A Coach of the Year in 2014, Class 4A Coach of the Year in 2006 and the Gainesville Sun Coach of the Year all three seasons.
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Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School
Davis served as the Lady Cougars head coach for both indoor and beach volleyball since 2021. In three seasons as coach of the indoor program, the Cougars went 59-26, including 21-8 this past season that ended in the Class 3A-Region 3 semifinals. Cardinal Mooney also reached the 3A-3 regional final and regional quarterfinals during Davis’ tenure. The Cougars’ beach volleyball team was 7-1 when Davis stepped aside.
“I’m proud of our accomplishments during my time at Mooney,” Davis said. “It was an awesome group and I am going to miss the girls. Whoever comes in is going to have a solid foundation.”
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Cleared of Allegations
After a three-year investigation, Chad Davis was cleared by the Florida Department of Education of sexual harassment allegations. The Department of Education informed Davis that "upon completion of the initial inquiry, the Office of Professional Practices Services has determined that at this time further action by this office is not warranted."
Davis said, "It makes you feel good that you get vindicated from everything. It's just a shame it takes three years."
Booker High School
Davis was hired as the varsity volleyball coach at Booker High School. “I was able to work everything out and super, super excited to get started,” Davis said. “I’m going to do what I’ve always done: build a program up,” Davis said.
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He plans to bring three coaches from his time at Cardinal Mooney. “They believe in what we are going to do and get ready to get this constructed from the ground up,” Davis said.
Adrian College
Chad Davis will return to Adrian College to make his second stint as head coach. During his time at Adrian College from 2011-2018, Davis accumulated a record of 150-37-10 which continues to be the most wins in by an Adrian women's hockey head coach. Davis was named the NCHA Coach of the Year four times and was the NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year in 2017.
Davis said, "I feel very blessed for an opportunity to return home and lead the Adrian Bulldogs women's ice hockey program.
Saint Mary's University
Davis' most recently served as head coach of the Saint Mary's University women's hockey program in Minnesota. He coached for one season where he led the team to their first appearance to the Conference Finals and cracked into the national rankings for the first time in program history. He coached the MIAC Rookie of the Year and three MIAC All-Conference selections.
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
After his first stint at Adrian College, Davis took a head coaching job at NCAA Division I, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). In 2019, Davis was named the CHA Coach of the Year and became a Division I Coach of the Year Finalist.
Summary of Achievements
Here is a table summarizing Chad Davis's coaching achievements:
| Organization | Position | Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| Adrian College | Head Coach | 150-37-10 record, NCHA Coach of the Year (4 times), NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year (2017) |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) | Head Coach | CHA Coach of the Year (2019), Division I Coach of the Year Finalist |
| Saint Mary's University | Head Coach | First appearance to Conference Finals, MIAC Rookie of the Year, Three MIAC All-Conference selections |
| P.K. Yonge | Coach | 89-5 record, Back-to-back state championships (2014, 2015), Florida Coach of the Year |
| Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School | Head Coach | 59-26 record, Class 3A-Region 3 semifinals, 3A-3 regional final and regional quarterfinals |
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