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Terry Davis Named Western Illinois Baseball Coach

| By: WIU Athletic Communications
MACOMB -- Western Illinois University Athletic Director Paul A. Bubb named Terry Davis as the university's new head baseball coach. Davis becomes the ninth coach in the history of the program.
 
"I am excited to have Terry join our staff here at Western," Bubb said. "His experience at other Division I programs, especially being part of programs that faced difficult challenges and were able to achieve success, will provide him with the experience we are looking for here at Western."
 
Davis, comes to Western Illinois from Portland State after serving as an assistant baseball coach and recruiting coordinator at Washington State..
 
"My family and I couldn't be more excited to be part of Western Illinois University and to have the opportunity to lead this program into the OVC," Davis said. "First and foremost, I would like to thank Vice President Clare Thompson, Director of Athletics Paul Bubb, and the entire Search Committee for giving me the opportunity to be the next Head Coach of Leatherneck Baseball. What an honor and opportunity.
 
"I would also like to thank my wife Natalie for her unwavering support, and we cannot wait to get to Macomb. And lastly, a huge thank you to every mentor, coach, former player, and friend that has had an impact on my career and provided support along the way. Thank you!"
 
On the field in 2021, Washington State led the Pac-12 and was fifth in the country in doubles-per-game (2.4), second in the conference in hitting (.302), third in extra-base hits (101) and third in scoring (7.2 runs/g) while pacing the league with 74 doubles in conference games. First baseman Kyle Manzardo was named to the All-America First Team by Collegiate baseball, earning All-America honors for the second straight season while the Cougar pitching staff finished fifth in the Pac-12 in strikeouts-per-game (9.3) and recorded the second-most strikeouts (437) in program history.
 
The Cougars produced three draft picks in 2021 led by two-time All-American Manzardo who was selected in the second round and No. 63 overall by the Tampa Bay Rays, the highest Cougar draft pick since 1991. Manzardo was joined by Zane Mills (4th round, St. Louis) and Brandon White (12th round, Miami) to give WSU three draft picks in the first 12 rounds for the first time since 1977. Three players earned All-Pac-12 Conference honors in 201 as Manzardo and designated hitter Tristan Peterson were named the All-Pac-12 team while catcher Jake Meyer received honorable mention, the first Cougar catcher to earn all-conference honors since 2013.  Davis also helped sign the 2021 top-ranked JC Recruiting Class according to the JBB.
 
Davis' first season with the Cougars was limited to just 16 games due the COVID-19 pandemic but saw WSU post impressive numbers on and off the field. In the classroom, 22 players posted a fall semester GPA of 3.0 of higher and the team combined for a 3.05 team GPA, the highest team GPA in program history. On the field, WSU posted series wins over Rutgers and Niagara, finished the season third in the Pac-12 Conference in hits, home runs and hit-by-pitches and tied for second in the country in sacrifice bunts.
 
On the recruiting front in his first season with the Cougars, Davis helped WSU sign the fifth-ranked junior college recruiting class led by a Preseason Junior College Two-Way Player of the Year and also signed four of the Top-10 high school prospects in the state of Washington. Davis helped the Cougars produce a nationally-recognized 2021 recruiting class, signing the No. 29 class in the country according to Collegiate Baseball, rated ahead of conference foes Oregon State, Oregon, California and Washington, along with SEC members Texas A&M and Kentucky.
 
"Leatherneck Nation, you are getting a coaching staff who will dive headfirst into the community and understand the responsibility that we have to serve the community and to be an active member of it," Davis said. "We will be present in the community and the door will be open to all Leathernecks who came before us. We will be a relationship-driven organization that will recruit at an elite level and have incredible belief, energy, and optimism on a daily basis. We will be a tough, blue collar, accountable program that the University, Alumni, and surrounding community will be proud of and strive to be a part of."
 
Before coaching at Washington State, Davis served as an assistant coach at New Mexico State from 2016-2019. 
 
Over those three seasons, the Aggies went 113-61 overall and 55-20 in the Western Athletic Conference, capturing the league regular season title in 2018 and 2019. In 2018, New Mexico State qualified for the NCAA postseason, winning the WAC conference tournament title.
 
As lead recruiter, Davis signed three straight nationally-recognized recruiting classes at NMSU. Included in those classes was 2020 Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year Nick Gonzalez, who was drafted seventh overall in the Major League Baseball Draft.
 
"Western's success in the past is something I and so many alumni and friends want to see returned to the diamond here at WIU, and I believe Terry is the person who can do that," Bubb said.
 
Before coaching at New Mexico State, Davis was the hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at Bellarmine University from 2014-16, helping the Knights to a pair of Great Lakes Valley Tournament berths. Davis also coached 10 seasons at St. Catharine College (2004-13) as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator while helping the program transition from the junior college level to a four-year, NAIA program.
 
As a student-athlete, Davis played at Spalding University from 2000-2002 and was part of the 2002 NAIA World Series squad. He received his Bachelor of Science in Sports Leadership from St. Catharine College. 
 
"There is a lot of work to be done," Davis said. "We are excited for the challenges that lie ahead and for the opportunity to go chase something that hasn't been done before in the history of Western Illinois Baseball. It will take a community effort and we need your support! See you soon!"


 A "Welcome to Leatherneck Baseball" reception for alumni, players, parents and fans will be held on Thursday, July 20 at Sports Corner at 4:00 p.m. to welcome Coach Davis to Western Illinois.
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