Dan Davis returns for his eighth season at the helm of Grace's women's basketball program. Davis has enjoyed one of the best seven-year stints in program history. He is an accomplished coach, leading his teams to over 200 wins in his coaching career.
The Lancers reached the pinnacle in 2024. Davis led Grace to the 2024 NCCAA national championship, claiming the first national title in program history. Davis was named the NCCAA National Coach of the Year as a result.
Grace enjoyed one of its best seasons ever during the 2022-23 campaign. The Lancers reached the NAIA Tournament for the first time in team history, upsetting No. 19 Pikeville in their NAIA debut. Under Davis's leadership, Grace finished the season with new program records for wins (24), regular season wins (20), conference wins (13) and the longest winning streak (7).
During the 2021-22 season, Grace tied the program record for most wins in a season as they reached the 20-win mark for the third time in team history. Grace reached the semifinals of the Crossroads League Tournament and also qualified for the NCCAA National Championships for the seventh straight year. Davis's recruiting was on full display as two players (Maddie Ryman, Karlee Feldman) were named NCCAA All-Americans. Ryman was also honorable mention for NAIA All-American, becoming the fifth Lady Lancers to achieve that distinction. Davis was tabbed as the NCCAA Midwest Region Coach of the Year at the conclusion of the season.
In 2019-20, Davis led Grace to its best season (based on winning percentage) at 19-12 before the postseason was cut off due to COVID-19. The Lancers were poised to be a high seed at the NCCAA National Championships before the season was called off.
During Davis's first year, the Lancers qualified for the NCCAA National Championships, hosted at Grace's Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center. The team won two games and placed third, tied for the best finish in program history.
Players have experienced tremendous growth under Davis's mentorship. Vironnica Drake became the program's all-time leading scorer in 2019-20, producing a career-best 19.7 points per game as a senior. Drake was also a NAIA All-American Honorable Mention at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season.
A few years later, a local recruit (Maddie Ryman) eclipsed Drake's mark as the new all-time leading scorer. Additionally, Kyannah Stull nearly doubled her scoring average as a junior, posting 18.3 points per game. Stull graduated No. 4 all-time in career scoring.
Grace plays a fearless, exciting and aggressive style under Davis. In 2019-20 the Lancers finished No. 4 in the NAIA in turnover margin (+8.3), No. 8 in 3-pointers made (305) and No. 15 in scoring offense.
The Lancers have averaged 19 wins a season during Davis' coaching tenure.
Grace's success has not been limited to the hardwood during Davis's tenure. The Lancers have been in the top 25 of Women's Basketball Coaches Association poll for five consecutive years. The WBCA recognizes the top 25 programs who accumulated the highest team GPAs in the NAIA. The women's program has also won two Lancer Cup's which is awarded to the Grace program which best displays school-pride accompanied with academic and athletic success and community service.
Davis came to Grace after a successful 10-year stint at Auburn University-Montgomery. As the head women’s basketball coach at AUM, he led the Warhawks to a pair of appearances at the NAIA Division I National Tournament. He was also named the Coach of the Year in the Southern States Athletic Conference.
Davis recruited and coached five All-American players while at AUM, most notably the 2015-16 NAIA National Player of the Year (Jatoria Carter).
In the Warhawks’ final two years in the NAIA before transitioning to NCAA Division II, Davis led AUM to a record of 23-10 in 2015-16 and 21-10 in 2014-15. Overall, AUM went 157-139 during his tenure with four 20-win seasons.
Prior to AUM, Davis served as the athletic director and girls’ basketball coach at Providence Christian Academy in Lilburn, Ga., as well as the boys’ basketball coach at Grayson High School in Grayson, Ga.
Davis graduated from AUM in 1999 after studying social sciences and secondary education. He played for four seasons on AUM’s men’s basketball team, helping the team win conference and NAIA region championships and advancing to NAIA Nationals.
“We want to graduate our student-athletes, win games, do things with integrity and build champions for Christ who make a difference in the community and on campus,” Davis continued. “We will be working hard to get the basketball alumni involved and provide an exciting brand of basketball to watch. My family and I are thrilled and excited to be joining the Grace family and Winona Lake/Warsaw community.”
Davis and his wife Christi have four children: Abigail, Cooper and twins Nash and Tate.
