Ed Davis Jr.'s tenure as head coach of the Morgan State women's basketball program has been marked by consistent improvement and a commitment to excellence. As he enters his ninth season at the helm, Davis Jr. has established himself as a respected leader within the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the wider women’s basketball community.
Prior to assuming the head coaching position, Davis served as an assistant coach for five seasons at Morgan. During that time, he worked alongside legendary head coach Donald Beasley. Davis' contributions to the program's success during that period laid the foundation for his future leadership.
As head coach, Davis Jr. has consistently guided Morgan to new heights, including a historic run during the 2021-22 season. The Lady Bears would claim their first MEAC regular season title in program history after finishing in a three-way tie with Howard and Norfolk State with identical 11-3 MEAC records. Davis' teams have also made a mark on the national stage, earning a spot in the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) in 2023.
Entering this season, Davis stands as one of the most accomplished coaches in Morgan’s history. With 107 career victories to his name, Davis ranks third all-time among coaches at the university. He is determined to etch his name even further into the annals of Morgan women’s basketball history by surpassing the legendary coaches who came before him. With just 15 more wins, Davis will surpass LaRue Field (122) and move into second place on the all-time wins list. And if he can manage 34 more victories, he will become the winningest coach in Morgan history, eclipsing the mark set by Donald Beasley (141).
Bringing with him an impressive two decades of coaching experience, Coach Davis joined the Lady Bears' program in the 2012-13 season as an assistant coach. His extensive knowledge and skills greatly contributed to the team's success. Prior to his tenure at Morgan, Davis spent 12 seasons as the head coach at Delaware State, where he led the Hornets and created a winning culture.
Under Davis' leadership, Delaware State experienced unprecedented success. During his tenure, the team achieved a remarkable overall record of 178-182 (.494), solidifying Davis as the program's all-time winningest coach. Moreover, the Hornets excelled in the MEAC, posting an impressive 121-85 (.587) record under Davis' guidance. This remarkable run of success culminated in the Hornets capturing the MEAC Championship in 2004, a testament to Davis' exceptional coaching abilities and the team's unwavering determination.Â
The Davis years at Delaware State were highlighted by a MEAC Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament berth (2007), a MEAC regular season co-championship (2003-04), five MEAC championship game appearances and the only 20-win seasons (four) in team history.
Davis further enhanced his credentials after a hard fought loss to No. 2 seed Vanderbilt in the 2007 NCAA Tournament. His 15th seeded Lady Hornets trailed by just four points at the half and by six with eight minutes left to the heavily favored Commodores.  This hard-fought loss further solidified Davis' credentials as a formidable coach. His ability to motivate and prepare his team to compete at such a high level against a powerhouse opponent demonstrated his leadership skills.
Davis surpassed the 300-win mark for his career and became Delaware State's all-time leader in women's basketball victories during the 2007-08 season. He owns a career record of 349-234 (.598), highlighted by nine seasons with 20-plus wins.Â
Delaware State was particularly tough at home under Davis, posting a 94-48 (.662) mark at home during his time there. He led the team to a school-record 23 straight home wins from 2003-05 and the Lady Hornets led the MEAC in scoring defense for seven straight years before that string was snapped during the 2010-11 season.Â
During the 2006-07 season, under the guidance of coach Davis, the Lady Hornets embarked on an extraordinary late-season run. They rallied to win an impressive 13 of their last 15 games. This surge included a remarkable three-game sweep in the MEAC Tournament, culminating in a thrilling victory over Morgan in the championship game. This historic triumph marked the first-ever league championship for the Lady Hornets.
In 2005-06, Davis led the Lady Hornets to a 21-9 overall record and an appearance in the MEAC Tournament title game. The 21 wins matched the most in team history, tying the mark set by his 2003-04 squad. On February 27, 2006 Davis reached the 100th win plateau at Delaware State. One year after setting a national record for scoring defense, DSU led the MEAC and was sixth among all Division I teams in scoring defense at 53.4 points-per-game during the 2005-06 season.Â
During the 2004-05 campaign the Lady Hornets set a national record for scoring defense by becoming the first Division I women's team to hold opponents to less than 50 points per game in a season, allowing 49.6 per contest. Davis also served as the university's interim Director of Athletics during the 2004-05 academic year.Â
The previous season (2003-04), Davis led the Lady Hornets to new heights, recording a school-record 21 wins (21-9) and capturing a share of the MEAC regular season title for the first time in team history. His squad was defeated by regular season co-champ Hampton in the MEAC Tournament championship game. Delaware State went 11-0 at home that season, including a 59-56 win over West Virginia, DSU's first against a Big East opponent. Davis was rewarded by being named 2003-04 MEAC Coach-of-the-Year.
In 2002-03, Davis led the Hornets to the first 20-win season (20-10) in team history. Along the way, the Lady Hornets set team records for consecutive wins (10) and conference victories (16-2). In addition, the team's second-place finish in the final MEAC regular standings was the best in the program's history at the time.
During the 2000-01 season, his first at DSU, Davis guided a Lady Hornet team that was picked to finish 10th in the MEAC to within minutes of a conference championship.Â
Prior to taking over the Delaware State job, Davis was the head coach at Bowie State University in Maryland. During his eight seasons at Bowie, he amassed an impressive overall record of 171-54, transforming the Bulldogs into one of the top Division II programs in the country.
Davis' tenure at Bowie was marked by remarkable success. He led the Bulldogs to three Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championships, establishing them as a dominant force within the conference. Under his guidance, the team made three appearances in the NCAA Tournament, demonstrating their competitive spirit on the national stage.
In recognition of his exceptional coaching abilities, Davis received numerous 'coach of the year' awards. His dedication to player development and team success earned him widespread admiration.
Although Bowie State posted a record of 6-19 in 1992-93 in Davis' first season, it marked the most wins by the team in four years. The following season (1993-94), BSU improved to 14-11, its first winning season in 10 years.
Davis' 1994-95 team went 19-9 and advanced to the championship game of the CIAA Tournament. He captured his first CIAA Coach of the Year award following the season.
The next four years Davis led BSU to an unprecedented run of success in the CIAA. From 1995 to 1999, the Bulldogs posted a remarkable 110-10 record and a CIAA championship "three-peat." Davis' teams won 40 consecutive games on their home court from 1995 to 2000.
His 1995-96 team was 28-2 and advanced to the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA. The squad also ranked first among all Division II teams in scoring defense.Â
The 1996-97 team had a 28-game winning streak en route to a 29-2 overall mark and the CIAA Tournament championship. The team also qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year.
The following year the Bulldogs posted a 28-2 record and captured their second straight CIAA Tournament. The team was ranked as high as number six in the national polls.
Under coach Davis' leadership, the 1998-99 Bulldogs squad showcased their dominance, compiling an impressive 25-4 record. Their unrelenting efforts culminated in a third consecutive CIAA championship title. Their success did not end there; they advanced to the illustrious 'Sweet 16' of the NCAA Tournament, etching their mark in the annals of college basketball history.
The following season, Davis' Bulldogs maintained their high level of play, finishing with a commendable 22-5 record. They fought valiantly in the CIAA Tournament, reaching the championship game.
Davis has accumulated an impressive array of accolades throughout his illustrious career. In recognition of his exceptional coaching prowess, he was bestowed with the prestigious CIAA Coach of the Year award in 1995. His exceptional leadership and guidance of his teams led him to earn the esteemed Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) District II Coach of the Year honor not once, but twice, in 1998 and 1999.
Davis' coaching acumen was further acknowledged through his remarkable achievement of being named the CIAA Tournament Outstanding Coach in three consecutive years, from 1997 to 1999.
Prior to his years at Bowie State, Davis was a teacher and successful high school coach in the Washington, D.C. area.
Davis was a four-year letterwinner on the West Virginia State men's basketball team that set NCAA and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) scoring records in the late 1960s and early 70s.
A native of Washington, D.C., Davis holds a master's in education from Howard University and a bachelor's in education from West Virginia State College. Davis was inducted into the West Virginia State Athletics Hall of Fame as a player in October 2008 and the Bowie State Hall of Fame as a coach in May 2014. In September 2017, Davis was inducted into his third Hall of Fame when his 2006-07 Delaware State women’s team was inducted for capturing the 2007 MEAC title.  Â
