Nearly a decade ago, when Will Davis wore the blue and white of Red Bank as a prep football and basketball player, he took pride in giving an all-out effort whenever he took the field or court for the Lions.
These days, while wearing the same blue and white an assistant football coach at his high school alma mater, he’s glad to spend extra time helping out the current players who recently helped the Lions win the program’s 22nd region championship. Red Bank’s TSSAA Region 3-4A championship this year marked the program’s fifth league title in eight seasons, and the Lions (6-4) will host Macon County (7-3) in a first-round playoff game Friday night.
Beyond his coaching duties at practices and games, Davis also spends countless hours promoting his players on social media by sharing highlight reels through the X account @recruitredbank. Adding to the busy nature of his fall weekends is the fact that Davis helps see that Red Bank players who hope to make it to the next level of football have all their college recruiting visits taken care of.
“I wouldn’t trade what I get to do for anything else,” said Davis, a former defensive back who earned an opportunity to play college football for Austin Peay. “To be able to pour into the kids at Red Bank means a lot to me. I know exactly what they are going through day to day, and to be able to coach them is truly a blessing. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to make a difference in their lives.”
Davis graduated from Red Bank in 2016, and in a report of one basketball game from his senior season — he had a double-double in points and rebounds in a lopsided district win — he told the Times Free Press: “It’s my senior year and I want to give it my all. If I’m running and I pass out on the court and they carry me off, then I’ll know I gave it my all.”