Saint Francis University Athletics

Irwin Vincent Davis, known affectionately to his family and friends as I.V. has always bucked the odds.

The Ponchatula, Louisiana, native walked onto the football team at the University of Notre Dame and surprised the coaching staff by becoming a key reserve as an offensive and defensive lineman on the 1933 and 1934 Fighting Irish teams.

After receiving both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Notre Dame, Mr. Davis embarked upon a successful high school coaching career before assuming the role of the head football coach at Saint Francis College in 1949. He served in this capacity until 1953 when he took over as director of athletics and helped build a basketball program that had achieved regional recognition into one that gained national prominence in the mid-1950’s. He retired from the College in 1979. 

Saint Francis College is proud to honor I.V. Davis with induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame on this date, Saturday, November 16, 1996.