Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 2, 1993 TAG: 9312020442
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FERRUM LENGTH: Medium
Dave Davis finds out today when he hits the recruiting trail as the new head football coach at Ferrum College.
Davis was named Tuedsay to the position that had been held by Hank Norton for the past 34 years. Norton retired at the conclusion of this season with a 244-77-11 collegiate record.
"I feel honored that I was chosen to be his successor more than I feel pressure," Davis said of Norton. "No one will ever be able to match the records and accomplishments he's had. I'm just going to try my hardest to have a program that's comparable to what he had."
Davis has been the defensive coordinator at Ferrum since 1984 and was named associate head coach five years ago. He said there would be some changes made in the Panthers' program, but he wouldn't be specific.
"I've been a coach now nearly 25 years," he said. " . . . You are a factor of your environment, and I have a lot of things that I've learned from a lot of different people. A great deal of it came from Hank. But there will be some changes. I'm going to be myself. I'm going to do what I feel comfortable with."
Davis takes his first job as a college head coach with a strong nucleus. Seventeen starters are scheduled to return next season for the Panthers. Davis said he definitely would incorporate Norton's philosophy into his coaching.
"I've learned a great deal from Hank, and the values and things I've learned from him will always be treasured," Davis said. "I'll always call Hank and I'll always ask his advice on a lot of things. But I'm going to be myself and there are going to be some changes."
Norton said Davis was the natural choice to replace him.
"I think he's very deserving," Norton said. "It makes a lot of sense. . . . He's familiar with the college, familiar with the politics, familiar with the recruiting area. He knows all the players, knows the needs . . . It makes a lot of sense.
"He'll go right into the recruiting without any hitches and that's good. There are a lot of good things. He knows the opponents, knows the scheduling problems. I could go on and on and on."
No other coaches were interviewed for the position. Athletic director Ted Kinder also described Davis as the natural choice to succeed Norton.
"We think he is going to be a tremendous asset for us," Kinder said. "We think Coach Davis will continue the strong tradition we have here at Ferrum and in our football program.
"Coach Davis certainly won the job on his own merits."
\ DAVE DAVIS UP CLOSE LOOK AT FERRUM'S NEW COACH\ \ AGE: 44.\ \ COACHING EXPERIENCE: Associate coach/defensive coordinator at Ferrum (1984-93); assistant coach at East Carolina (1983-84); high school coach for eight years in North Carolina (Camden County, Scotland Neck, Hobgood Academy and Northeast Academy).\ \ EDUCATION: Forest Glen High School, Suffolk (1967); bachelor's degree in physical education from Elon (N.C.) College (1971); master's in physical education from East Carolina (1979).
\ FAMILY: Married to former Sharon McKee of Raleigh, N.C.; two children, Bryan, a sophomore at Ferrum, and Lauren, a student at Franklin County High School.\ \ MISCELLANY: Davis becomes the fifth coach in Ferrum history. Sam Webb was the college's first coach (1955-56). Webb was followed by Carson Barnes (1957-58), Lewis Lane (1958-59) and Hank Norton (1960-93).
by CNB