Davis to enter Hall of Fame

Russ Davis, who has amassed an .802 winning percentage in 20 seasons as the Vanguard University women’s basketball coach, has earned a spot in the NAIA Hall of Fame, the NAIA announced Thursday.

Davis, who guided the Lions to the 2008 national championship, has won 11 Golden State Athletic Conference titles and made 18 trips to the NAIA Tournament, is 525-129 heading into his 21st season at the Costa Mesa school.

The nine-time GSAC Coach of the Year, who is also a member of the Vanguard Athletic Hall of Fame, will be inducted on a date to be announced.

“For 21 years, Russ Davis has been the gold standard of what excellence looks like in the NAIA,” said Rhett Soliday, Vanguard athletic director and men’s basketball coach. “This award is so deserved and our entire campus community is thrilled to celebrate this honor with Russ.”

Davis, who coached girls’ basketball at Estancia High, instructed 14 first-team All-Americans, 59 NAIA scholar-athlete All-Americans and five national players of the year honorees at Vanguard.

“The NAIA has a strong reputation for character-driven athletics, so this national recognition of Russ Davis is something our university is incredibly proud of,” said Vanguard University President Dr. Michael J. Beals. “Coach Davis has always encouraged a high standard of athletic excellence, academic excellence, and character building during his coaching tenure with the Vanguard Lions, deeply changing the lives of our student athletes.”

— From staff reports