MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Since his career officially came to an end late Wednesday evening, I’ll admit to being a bit late in paying my respects to Polk County girls’ basketball coach Ron Davis. But I’m not nearly as tardy in honoring him as Polk County school administrators.
The Wildkittens were eliminated from the Class AA state tournament by South Greene, but before another meaningful jump shot or layup is made next season, Polk County’s gym — or at least the court — should bear his name.
It’s a slam dunk move since Davis coached his alma mater for 34 years, winning at least 20 games 22 times, and his 1981 team is responsible for the school’s only state championship of any kind.
While Davis has spent his career coaching at predominantly white schools and Brainerd coach Robert High has spent his 30-plus years at a school with a mostly black enrollment, there are several similarities in their careers. Neither played basketball in high school, nor did either intend to coach the sport when they began their teaching careers. Both now have more than 900 career wins and at least one state championship, but the one striking difference is that High has his name on the wall of Brainerd’s gym, while Davis inexplicably does not at Polk County.
Davis was a football and baseball star at Polk County, but his first teaching and coaching job was at Copper Basin.