August 30, 2008
(release courtesy of Paul Misner, University of Dubuque sports information director)

DUBUQUE, IOWA . . . Jon Davison (C’61), who announced last November that he was retiring as Clarke’s head basketball and men’s golf coach, will be returning home to the University of Dubuque.

Davison will be entering his 40th season in the collegiate ranks as he takes over the men’s golf program for the Spartans. He will council men’s basketball and spend time re-connecting with Dubuque Alumni as special projects coordinator for the development office.

Davison, a native of Aledo, Ill., has spent 42 years in the coaching and teaching profession. He started his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater in 1966. Davison logged over 300 wins in 27 seasons as head basketball coach at UD. His squads posted an overall won-loss record of 371-320 and had four 20-plus win seasons.

During the 1980’s, Davison’s squads dominated the Iowa Conference, compiling the best won-loss record over that 10-year period. His 1986, 1988, and 1990 squads won the Iowa Conference championship. The Spartans qualified for the NCAA Division III tournament in 1981, 1986, 1988, and 1990.

Davison was named Iowa Conference Coach of the Year in basketball in 1986, 1988 and 1990, and in golf in 1975. In 1990, he was awarded the Paul Maaske Award as Iowa’s Small College Coach of the Year. He coached eight Conference Players of the Year at UD.

Davison served as director of athletics, head men’s basketball coach (27 years), head golf coach (15 years), head track coach (6 years), head tennis coach (3 years), head cross country coach (10 years), head baseball coach (1 year), assistant football coach (8 years), associate professor of physical education and department chairman (20 years) at UD at various times from 1966 to 1993.

Davison lettered in four sports at the UD, where he garnered four letters in both football and track, two in basketball, and one in baseball.

After a three-year hiatus from collegiate coaching, Davison joined Clarke’s coaching staff in 1996. He guided his 2005-06 squad to a 17-10 mark and its first Northern Illinois - Iowa Conference championship. Clarke finished 11-1 overall in league play. The Crusaders' championship season came on the heels of a 20-7 campaign in 2004-05.

“I was looking for a part-time job and the University of Dubuque so graciously was looking for part-time people and I’m looking forward to joining the Spartans,” commented Davison. “I’m tickled to have the opportunity to continue what I have done for the past fourty years."

Davison guided Clarke’s men’s golf program to seven straight Northern Illinois - Iowa Conference championships from 1999 to 2005. Davison was named the conference Coach of the Year in 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04. He was named the 2004-05 NIIC Co-Coach of the Year.

Davison met his wife, Nita, while a student at UD, and two of their children received their degrees from the institution.

-30-

The Jon Davison File
Native of: Aledo, Illinois
Education: Bachelor of science degree in physical education, University of Dubuque in 1961; Master of arts degree in teaching, Michigan State University.

Notes:
* Spent last 12 years coaching at Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa
* Led Clarke to seven straight Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference (NIIC) golf championships from 1999 to 2005.
* Named the conference Coach of the Year in 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04.
* Led Clarke's men's basketball team to a school-record 21 wins this past season and a second place finish in the Midwest Collegiate Conference.
* Picked up his 500th collegiate victory with an 84-71 win over Loras College on Nov. 16, 2007.
* Posted over 370 victories in 28 years as the head men's basketball coach at the University of Dubuque.
* Served as the athletic director at the University of Dubuque from 1968 to 1993.

-30-