University of Dayton Athletics

Johnny Davis played three years of basketball at UD before turning professional after his junior season.  Was named the team’s most valuable player in his sophomore and junior seasons and he completed his career as UD’s 8th all-time leading scorer.  Davis averaged 14.3, 22.3, and 21.8 points per game in his 3 seasons at UD but Davis was known for his desire to win.  Won two awards his sophomore year; Alex Schoen Memorial Free-Throw Trophy and Thomas M. Luppe Memorial Award.  He also won the John L. MacBeth Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award in his senior season.

Davis spent ten years in the NBA as a player with the Portland Trail Blazers, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, and Cleveland Cavaliers.  Now brings a wealth of basketball experience to the Memphis Grizzlies as he enters his 34th year as a former player, assistant coach, front office executive and two-time head coach.  Davis and the Grizzlies’ head coach, Lionel Hollins, were teammates on the Portland Trailblazers Championship Team in 1977. Davis was the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996-97, the Orlando Magic over parts of two seasons (2003-05), compiling a career record of 73-146 (.333). Davis was voted as Coach of the Month in November of 2005 for Eastern Conference coaches while with the Orlando Magic. In addition to his stints as a head coach in the NBA, Davis has been an NBA assistant for 17 years. He has worked for the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Minnesota Timberwolves and the Indiana Pacers. Davis also has experience on the administrative side of the NBA having spent three years in the front office of the Atlanta Hawks.