Courtesy Bellarmine Sports Information
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — William Davis has been hired as the new head coach of the Bellarmine University men’s tennis team, Director of Athletics Scott Wiegandt announced Friday.
A former team captain at Michigan State and a Louisville native, Davis comes to Bellarmine after spending the last three seasons as a women’s assistant coach at Division I Virginia Tech. The Knights are set to begin their final season in Division II before entering the DI ranks in the ASUN Conference.
“I am very excited to be joining the Bellarmine family,” Davis said. “I look forward to helping the Knights make the leap to Division I, and helping young men grow into great leaders in their respective communities.”
During his time at Virginia Tech, the Hokies earned eight All-ACC awards and two ITA Atlantic Region Senior Player of the Year accolades along with having six nationally ranked singles players, three nationally ranked doubles tandems and a nationally ranked recruiting class by Tennis Recruiting Network. In his first season at Virginia Tech, the Hokies upset 25th-ranked N.C. State.
Also during Davis’ tenure, Virginia Tech had 12 Academic All-ACC selections, was bestowed the university’s Team Community Service Award in 2019 and once carried a 3.71 team GPA that marked the highest among Virginia Tech’s athletic teams.
“We’re happy to welcome Will home to Louisville and into the Bellarmine family,” Wiegandt said. “He brings a great level of professionalism and collegiate tennis experience with him to this post. Will played high-level tennis in college, and assumed a central leadership role within the team while doing so. That leadership, maturity and knowledge of the game allowed him to jump immediately into the college coaching ranks, and he’s shown nothing but promise in regard to guiding a program. I’m excited about the future of our men’s tennis program under Will’s direction.”
Prior to his stint at Virginia Tech, Davis spent two years as a men’s assistant coach at Division III Washington and Lee. The Generals earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament both seasons and went a combined 31-18 while boasting 12 first-team All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference awards, a Conference Player of the Year accolade and two Conference Rookie Player of the Year laurels. Both of the team’s recruiting classes with Davis on staff were nationally ranked by Tennis Recruiting Network.
In addition, Washington and Lee amassed 18 ODAC All-Academic Team honors, two CoSIDA Academic All-District notices and one Capital One Academic All-America Team recognition while posting a team GPA of 3.59 in Davis’ two years. Along with his coaching duties at Washington and Lee, Davis was the assistant director of the Duchossois Tennis Center and a member of the physical education faculty.
Davis played at Michigan State from 2009-14. He was voted captain twice and was a four-year letterman who compiled a 51-47 singles record and 30-28 doubles record. The Spartans went 75-62 in Davis’ tenure with the program while making their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament and rising from last place in the Big Ten to top six over Davis’ final three years.
Davis earned a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State. He is a graduate of Kentucky Country Day School in Louisville.
