Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 30, 1993 TAG: 9311300013
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From staff reports
DATELINE: FERRUM LENGTH: Short
Ferrum College is expected to name Dave Davis its new football coach at a news conference today on the school's campus.
Davis would succeed Hank Norton, who retired this month after 34 years as the Panthers' head coach. Davis, 44, joined Norton's staff in 1984 and moves up from associate coach/defensive coordinator.
Ferrum officials would not comment on the school's selection of Norton's successor. Before the season and after, Norton publicly endorsed Davis as his replacement.
Davis was born in Roanoke Rapids, N.C. and grew up in Suffolk. He graduated from Elon College and has a master's degree in education from East Carolina, where he spent time as an assistant football coach before joining Norton's staff.
Davis' defense has produced three Kodak first-team Division III All-Americas: linebacker David Harper in 1987 and '88, defensive back Melvin Dillard in '90 (Kodak) and linebacker John Sheets in '91.
Davis would become the fifth head coach in Panther history, following Sam Webb (1955-56), Carson Barnes (1957-58), Lewis Lane (1960) and Norton, who led the Panthers to a 244-77-11 record, four national junior college championships, three junior-college coach of the year awards and one Division III coach of the year honor.
Norton's last team went 5-4.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***