Greg Davis – Class of 1969

Greg Davis was the quarterback for the Indians in 1967-68 and was named to the 1968 All-District team. He is currently the offensive coordinator at the University of Texas.

Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
A 37-year coaching veteran, Greg Davis is in his 12th year as offensive coordinator/QBs coach. As the leader of one of the nation’s premier offensive attacks at Texas, Davis was recognized as the nation’s top assistant coach with the Frank Broyles Award in 2005. Texas has had just four QBs start a game in the NFL, and Davis has tutored two of them (Vince Young, Chris Simms).
Under his guidance, the Longhorns have produced nine of the top 10 passing seasons, 10 of the top 12 total offense seasons and the eight top scoring campaigns in UT history. In 2005, UT set season records for total offense (6,657) and points (652/No. 3 NCAA history). His offense has produced 39 of the 62 500-yard total offense efforts in school history, including four of the top six and a school-best 692 yards (vs. Rice, 1998).
Davis’ UT offense has produced four Big 12 Offensive Players of the Year — RB Ricky Williams, 1998; QB Major Applewhite, 1999; QB Vince Young, 2005; QB Colt McCoy, 2008. During his 11 years at UT, he has tutored 31 first-team All-Big 12 performers and 51 others who have earned recognition among the All-Big 12 second, third and honorable mention teams.
As UT’s quarterbacks coach, Davis has tutored two runners-up for the Heisman Trophy, a Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year, a Sporting News Player of the Year, a Maxwell Award winner, Davey O’Brien Award winner and Manning Award winner, two winners of the Archie Griffin Award, two finalists for the Maxwell Award, Manning Award and Davey O’Brien Award, four Big 12 Offensive Players of the Year and three QBs that earned league Freshman of the Year honors.
In 2008, the Longhorns finished in the nation’s Top 10 in pass efficiency (second/175.0), scoring offense (fifth/42.4 ppg), passing offense (seventh/308.3 ypg) and total offense (ninth/475.8 ypg). Junior QB Colt McCoy set a NCAA single-season record for completion percentage at 76.7 and set UT single-season records for completions (332), yards (3,859), TDs (34), passer rating (173.8), total offense (4,420) and TDs accounted for (45). For the first time in school history and 11th in NCAA history, Texas had two receivers with at least 85 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards each in Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby.
In 2007, Texas averaged 462.9 yards of total offense (13th NCAA), 207.5 yards rushing (17th NCAA) and 37.2 points per game (14th NCAA). Sophomore QB Colt McCoy completed 65.1 percent of his passes for 3,303 yards (No. 3 on UT’s single-season list) and 22 TDs (T-No. 5 on UT’s single-season list). His 3,795 yards of total offense also were second-best on the UT single-season list and are now third.
Despite breaking in a freshman quarterback in McCoy in 2006, Davis helped Texas remain one of the nation’s top offenses. McCoy finished the season as a Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist and was named National Freshman of the Year by The Sporting News and the Touchdown Club of Columbus. McCoy’s 29 TD passes tied the NCAA record for TD passes by a freshman and set UT’s record for single-season TD passes. As a whole, UT finished 2006 ranked sixth in scoring offense (35.9 ppg) and 22nd in total offense (391.5 ypg).
Behind Davis’ leadership, the Texas offense had a record-breaking year in 2005, one in which Davis was recognized as the nation’s top assistant coach with the Frank Broyles Award. The Longhorns’ 652 points scored were the most scored in NCAA history. They also set the school record for total offense with 6,657. Texas became only the fifth team to average over 50 points per game (50.2 ppg) and 500 yards per game (512.1 ypg) in NCAA history and the first to accomplish the feat since Nebraska in 1995.
Young also flourished under Davis in 2005, winning both the Davey O’Brien and Manning Awards as the nation’s top quarterback. He was also the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. Young became the first player in NCAA history to throw for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a season. He tied the UT single-season mark for TD passes with 26 and was third on the single-season passing list with 3,036 yards.
The Longhorns took advantage of a veteran offensive line and All-America RB Cedric Benson in 2004 to finish the season ranked second in the country in rushing offense (299.2 ypg), seventh in total offense (464.4 ypg) and 12th in scoring (35.3 ppg). UT rushed for at least 300 yards six times in 2004, the most since 1977. UT’s 5,573 total yards were the second-most in school history and its 3,590 rushing yards were third-most.
As a sophomore, Young was named 2005 Rose Bowl MVP and completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 1,849 yards and 12 TDs. He also rushed for 1,079 yards and 14 TDs, becoming the first player in UT history to pass and rush for over 1,000 yards.
In 2003, Davis took an offense with two first-year starting QBs and led it to, what was, the best total offense season in school history (5,709 yards) and a then-school record 533 points. The Longhorns’ 3,023 rushing yards were the most for UT since 1977. UT averaged 200 yards both rushing and passing in a season for just the third time in school history.
As a redshirt freshman, Young became the first QB in UT history to post better than 900 yards rushing (998) and passing (1,155) and earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors. Junior Chance Mock had the nation’s top TD-to-INT ratio (16 TDs/2 INTs).
As a senior in 2002, Chris Simms, under Davis’ tutelage, established UT single-season records for TD passes (26) and TDs accounted for (30). His 3,207 passing yards and 3,083 yards of offense ranked second on UT’s season list. He led UT to an 11-2 record, becoming the first starting QB in school history to lead the team to back-to-back 10-win seasons.
Simms, who is second in UT history with a 58.7 completion percentage (535-of-911) and second in passer efficiency rating (138.4), ranks second on UT’s all-time TD passes list (58), fourth in passing yards (7,097) and is tied for third in QB victories (26-6/.813). In 2002, Davis’ offense boasted a 3,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rusher/receiver for the second time in UT history.
One year earlier, Simms, the Big 12 leader in passing efficiency (144.25), started 12 games and threw 22 TD passes (No. 2 on UT’s season list) as the Longhorns posted a 10-2 record in his 12 starts. Davis honed Simms’ skills during the 2000 season, while a pair of knee injuries slowed Major Applewhite prior to and during the season.
Davis spent 1999 directing an offense that was the first in UT history and one of only four nationally to boast a 3,000-yard passer as well as a 1,000-yard rusher and receiver. He was named a finalist for the 1999 Frank Broyles Award (nation’s top assistant). Applewhite set UT season marks for passing yards (3,357) and total offense (3,211) en route to Big 12 co-Offensive Player of the Year honors. He finished his career as UT”s all-time leader in passing yards (8,353), total yards (8,059) and TD passes (60).
In Davis’ first year at UT in `98, the Horns became just the second unit in NCAA Div. I-A history to feature a 2,000-yard rusher (Ricky Williams) and passer (Major Applewhite) as well as a 1,000-yard receiver (Wane McGarity). An early season injury to senior QB Richard Walton forced redshirt freshman Major Applewhite into the lineup. Applewhite went on to set UT freshman records for passing yards (2,453) and TD passes (18). He was the Big 12’s Freshman of the Year.
Prior to Texas, Davis helped develop the QB duo of Chris Keldorf and Oscar Davenport, who teamed to complete 60% of their passes for more than 2,700 yards in each of Davis’ two years at North Carolina.
Mack Brown’s successor as head coach at Tulane from 1988-91, Davis spent two seasons (1994-95) as Georgia’s passing game coordinator and two years (1992-93) as offensive coordinator/QBs coach at Arkansas before joining Brown at UNC.
While at Georgia, Davis helped lead the Bulldogs to the 1995 Peach Bowl despite injuries to the team’s top two QBs. He did so by preparing converted slot back Hines Ward for the starting QB job. Ward set a school bowl game record by completing 31-of-59 passes for 413 yards in the Peach Bowl. Davis also coached first-team All-American Eric Zeier, a third-round pick of the Cleveland Browns (1995 NFL Draft). Zeier set UGA marks for passing (3,721) and total yards (5,135) in `94.
A 1973 graduate of McNeese State with a bachelor’s degree in sports administration, Davis began his career in the high school ranks while working toward a master’s degree. He coached at Barbe High School (Lake Charles, La.) from 1973-74 and Port Neches-Groves High School (Port Neches, Texas) from 1975-77, where he helped lead the Indians to the 1975 Texas 4A state title. Davis completed his master’s degree in 1977. He began his college coaching career at Texas A&M, serving as the Aggies’ QBs coach (1978-84). He then joined Brown as assistant head coach/WRs at Tulane in 1985.
He and his wife, Patsy, have two children, Greg Jr. (RBs coach at Tulane) and Stacey, and five grandchildren. Greg Jr. and his wife, Karen, have two daughters, Taylor and Kaylen. Stacey and her husband, Kory, have three children, a daughter, Brook, and two sons, K.J. and Davis.
THE GREG DAVIS FILE
Hometown: Groves, Texas
High school: Port Neches-Groves (Port Neches, Texas)
College: McNeese State (1973)
Graduate degree: McNeese State (1977)
Years in coaching: 37
Wife: Patsy
Children: Greg Jr., Stacey
Coaching Assignments
1998-present: Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks, Texas
1996-97: Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks, North Carolina
1994-95: Passing Game Coordinator, Georgia
1992-93: Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks, Arkansas
1988-91: Head Coach, Tulane
1985-87: Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers, Tulane
1978-84: Quarterbacks, Texas A&M
1975-77: Assistant Coach, Port Neches-Groves (Texas) HS
1973-74: Assistant Coach, Barbe (La.) HS
College Bowl Experience
2009: Fiesta Bowl, Texas
2007: Holiday Bowl, Texas
2006: Alamo Bowl, Texas
2006: Rose Bowl, Texas (National Champions)
2005: Rose Bowl, Texas
2003: Holiday Bowl, Texas
2003: Cotton Bowl, Texas
2001: Holiday Bowl, Texas
2000: Holiday Bowl, Texas
2000: Cotton Bowl, Texas
1999: Cotton Bowl, Texas
1998: Gator Bowl, North Carolina
1997: Gator Bowl, North Carolina
1995: Peach Bowl, Georgia
1987: Independence Bowl, Tulane
1981: Independence Bowl, Texas A&M
1978: Hall of Fame Bowl, Texas A&M
1971: Grantland Rice Bowl, McNeese State (as a player)