HEAD COACH
GREG DAVIS
FOOTBALL STAFF
Greg Davis was selected as Northeast Mississippi Community College’s 14th head football coach in 2015. He begins his tenth year overall on the Tigers’ staff in 2021. Davis is currently the fourth winningest headman in program history. He surpassed Johnny Plummer for the number four spot following Northeast’s season ending rivalry victory at Itawamba Community College last fall. The Tigers pieced together one of their best seasons ever in 2020 after claiming the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) North Division runner-up spot with a 5-1 record. Northeast was awarded with a national ranking of No. 13 from JCGridiron at the conclusion of the 2020-21 academic year. It is the second final top 15 rating for the Tigers under Davis with the first coming in 2016. The Tigers tied for the most individual All-MACCC recipients with 14. Andison Coby at wide receiver and kick returner plus John Ellis Murrah at kicker and punter won all-conference distinction twice. Northeast also garnered seven Fall All-America honorees, including defensive backs Keyshawn Cobb, Deantre Prince and Tony Washington; defensive linemen Jamal Ellis and Cedric Hillsman; offensive lineman Will Derico; quarterback Kevin Hurley and linebacker Jamarcus Smith. The aforementioned 2016 campaign was just as special. The Tigers went 6-3, including a sweep of its opponents from the MACCC South Division, and ascended into the top 10 of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) poll. Five of Davis’ former Tigers have signed professional contracts. That includes three – Joe Horn, Jr., of the Baltimore Ravens, Daniel Ross of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Anthony Rush of the Tennessee Titans –
in the National Football League (NFL). Sixty Northeast standouts have advanced to the four-year level, including Power Five signees Brenden Williams, Sam Williams and Prince to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss); Ethan Smart to Purdue (Ind.) University and Coby to the University of Tennessee. Sam Williams became one of the most decorated athletes in school history after receiving NJCAA Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2018. He accumulated 75 takedowns, 28.5 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks during his sophomore campaign with the Tigers. Northeast has also placed an emphasis on academics with Davis at the helm. Smith was recognized as the inaugural College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America® selection in 2021. The Tigers have received 48 Academic All-MACCC accolades in Davis’ six seasons. Northeast has also secured 13 NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Awards in that same span, including two-time winners Carson Banks and Smith. Davis made his way to Booneville in 2012 after serving at Kentucky State University for two years. As the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the Thorobreds, he helped lead a pair of running backs in Anthony Boykins and Shannon Frieson to 1,000-yard seasons in 2009. While serving in Frankfort, Ky., Davis was chosen to attend the 2011 National Football League (NFL) and NCAA Football Academy at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn. He learned how to improve and reinforce various aspects of managing and excelling at various coaching positions at the collegiate level.
Before his stretch at Kentucky State, Davis was part of Sul Ross State (Texas) University’s staff where he held the titles of offensive line coach and offensive coordinator as well. Davis preceded his stint with the Lobos by spending a pair of seasons in Arkadelphia, Ark., at Henderson State University. It was during his time as the Reddies’ offensive line coach that Davis made a name for himself. During his tenure at Henderson State, Davis had four linemen selected to the NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region Team, three elected to the All-Gulf South Conference (GSC) Team and one tabbed as an All-American. Henderson State’s Kurt Kutscher was also a finalist for the 2007 Gene Upshaw Award, which is given to the best offensive lineman in NCAA Division II, under the direction of Davis. During the 2004-05 seasons, he found himself at Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) member Upper Iowa University. Before becoming a Peacock, Davis was the offensive line coach and strength coordinator at Muskogee, Okla., based Bacone College. He began his coaching career at Stephen F. Austin State (Texas) University. Davis then moved to Independence (Kan.) Community College where he served in multiple roles, including assistant head coach, run game coordinator and offensive line coach. He starred on the gridiron at Texas Christian University in the mid-1990s. Davis participated in the 1994 Independence Bowl and was named to the 1998 All-Sun Bowl Team after guiding the Horned Frogs to a 28-19 victory over the University of Southern California. Davis signed with the practice squad of the NFL’s New York Giants following his senior campaign in 1999. He then returned to the Lone Star State and inked with the Arena Football League’s (AFL) Houston Thunder Bears. He saw action on both sides of the pigskin at center, nose guard and long snapper for the Thunder Bears. Davis made seven tackles and forced one fumble for Houston from 2000-01 while touring the country and squaring off against opponents such as the five-time AFL champion Arizona Rattlers. Davis has a Bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian and a Master’s degree from Stephen F. Austin. He and his wife Karri, who served for three years as Northeast’s cheerleading coach, have two sons, Reed and Rece.
NEMCCTIGERS
| 7
