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Kevin Davis leads Raiders baseball into new school year as head coach

Tamara Kelly
Staff Writer 

Three years at Pierce, two years as head assistant, and two years playing for the minor league with the Atlanta Braves are just a few accomplishments for the new men’s baseball team head coach, Kevin Davis.

Amid the eight years of coaching, Davis began his career as a volunteer assistant for about a year and then worked his way up.

Davis has always enjoyed baseball, starting from his days of playing at Bellevue College to Big Bend Community College. He admitted to being hooked and has remained passionate about the game.

Before completing a degree in history at Lander University in South Carolina, Davis signed a deal with the Braves.

After two years of pitching and a vast array of life skills learned from greats like John Smoltz, Davis was ready to move on from the Braves.

Davis tried to take a break from baseball after he was done playing, but it was something he couldn’t get away from.

“I always knew I wanted to coach when I was done playing,” Davis said. “Some people have the game in their blood. ­ that’s how it was for me.”

­The head coach at Presbyterian College remembered Davis from his professional days at Lander. He suggested that after finishing coaching a summer league team, Davis consider coaching for Presbyterian College.

Last season, Davis was part of the team along with last year’s head coach Mike Nadeau. Both were responsible for leading their teams to Pierce’s first-ever Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) Baseball Championship.

He credits Nadeau for all the diligent work he put forth towards creating a successful and cohesive team, whose members all came together despite how the first of the season had begun.

“We had a terrible preseason,” Davis said. “We came together and changed to a positive outlook because things get negative when you lose, but we took a step back and adjusted a few things. Once we did that, it was our turning point for our season.

“Junior colleges are about getting a chance and then moving on with what you learned; for players and for coaches.”