Keno Davis stopped by the basketball offices at Drake University to say good-bye to his players before heading back to Rhode Island where he was named the new coach at Providence College this week.
Davis led the Bulldogs to their best season since 1971 and was named the national coach of the year after leading Drake to a 28-5 mark in his only season as head coach.
“The whole process, you know, of going to a different program, it’s been emotional for our players for the people involved and for me and my family as well,” Davis says, “I think the reason is because it’s such a great place with such great people.” Davis says it was the right job at the right time and he was not expecting Drake to make a counter offer.
He says when it came down to it, it was an opportunity to go back where he grew up and in a good conference. Davis says the chance to coach in the Big East was too good to pass up. He says he started out coaching at Southern Indiana and a division two school and the same things that motivated him there motivated him to push himself on to a new challenge.
Davis says the players and most of the fans understand why he is making the move but understands there are some Bulldog fans who feel jilted. Davis says the same people that are angry that he is leaving are probably the same ones that got angry when he got the job, because of who he was (Tom Davis’ son.) Davis says overall it is the best move for him and his family. Davis would like to see assistant coach Chris Davis get promoted but says he is confident Drake officials will make the right choice.