Greg Davis

Greg Davis, a 42-year coaching veteran, is in his fifth year as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Iowa.  Davis served in the same capacity at the University of Texas for 13 seasons (1998-2010).

The Hawkeyes posted a perfect 12-0 regular season record in 2015, winning the West Division of the Big Ten Conference.  Iowa participated in the 2016 Rose Bowl following a last-minute loss to Michigan State (16-13) in the Big Ten championship game and ended the season in the top 10 in the national rankings. 

Iowa has participated in January bowl games the past three seasons, including the 2014 Outback Bowl, the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl and the 2016 Rose Bowl.  The Hawkeyes have ranked in the final top 10 of both major polls five times in the past 14 seasons.

Iowa’s offense in 2015 averaged 30.9 points and 386.1 yards total offense per game under the leadership of quarterback C.J. Beathard, who returns for his senior season in 2015 after earning second team All-Big Ten honors last season.  Iowa ranked in the top 25 nationally in fourth down conversions, fewest penalties and fewest turnovers.  Iowa was third in the Big Ten in passing efficiency and fourth in third down conversions while recording its highest scoring average since 2010.

Iowa averaged just over 400 yards total offense per game in 2014, including 237 passing yards per contest.  That total ranks ninth best for a single season at Iowa.  Iowa’s total offense surpassed 400 yards per game for the first time since 2005.

Iowa’s offense made strides in 2013 as the Hawkeyes won eight games, placing second in the Legends Division and earning a spot in the 2014 Outback Bowl.  Iowa’s offense averaged 377 yards total offense per game, including 197 passing yards and 180 rushing yards per outing.

Davis was named Frank Broyles Assistant Coach of the Year in 2005 after Texas won the BCS national championship.  Texas has had just five quarterbacks start a game in the NFL, and Davis tutored three of them (Colt McCoy, Vince Young, Chris Simms).

Davis has coached in 21 bowl games, including January bowl games (Outback, TaxSlayer and Rose) with the Hawkeyes the past three seasons.  He has also coached in the Holiday Bowl (four), Rose Bowl (four), Cotton (three), Gator (two), Independence (two), Fiesta, Alamo, Peach and Hall of Fame.  Davis coached in the BCS national championship game twice (2006 and 2010 Rose Bowl games) and competed in the Grantland Rice Bowl as a player at McNeese State.

Under his guidance, the Texas offense produced 10 of the top 11 passing seasons, 11 of the top 13 total offense campaigns and the top nine scoring years in school history.  Texas averaged 39.0 points per game from 2000-09, which ranked second nationally and first among BCS conference schools.  In 2005, Texas set a then-NCAA record with 652 total points and a school record by averaging 50.2 ppg.

Under Davis, five Longhorns were named Big 12 Offensive Players of the Year, including RB Ricky Williams, 1998; QB Major Applewhite, 1999; QB Vince Young, 2005; QB Colt McCoy, 2008 and 2009.  At Texas, Davis tutored three finalists for the Heisman Trophy, including two players who were second in Heisman voting, two winners each of the Walter Camp Football Foundation Players of the Year, Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Manning Award and Archie Griffin Award.  He tutored a winner of the Unitas Golden Arm Award, a Sporting News Player of the Year and Chevrolet Offensive Player of the Year.

In 2009, Texas averaged 39.3 points per game (third NCAA), 421.2 total yards (29th NCAA), 273.6 passing yards (22nd NCAA) and 147.6 yards rushing. Senior QB Colt McCoy led the nation in completion percentage (70.6) for the second straight year while taking home the WCFF Player of the Year Award, Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Unitas Golden Arm Award and Manning Award.  WR Jordan Shipley was also a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.

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).  McCoy set a NCAA single-season record for completion percentage at 76.7 and set single-season school records for completions (332), yards (3,859), touchdowns (34) and passer rating (173.8).  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.

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).  McCoy completed 65.1 percent of his passes for 3,303 yards (No. 3 on Texas’ single-season list) and 22 touchdowns.

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 Sporting News and the Touchdown Club of Columbus.  As a whole, Texas 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 were the most scored in NCAA history.  They also set the school record for total offense with 6,657 yards. 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.

Young also flourished under Davis in 2005, winning both the Davey O’Brien and Manning Awards as the nation’s top quarterback.  He also won the Maxwell Award and was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. He became the first player in NCAA history to throw for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a season.

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).  As a sophomore, Young completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 1,849 yards and 12 touchdowns.  He also rushed for 1,079 yards and 14 scores and was the Rose Bowl MVP.

In 2003, Davis took an offense with two first-year starting quarterbacks 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 3,023 rushing yards were the most for Texas since 1977.

As a redshirt freshman, Young became the first quarterback in school history to post better than 900 yards rushing (998) and passing (1,155) while earning Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors.  Junior Chance Mock had the nation’s top touchdown-to-interception ratio (16 TDs/2 INTs).

Under Davis in 2002, senior quarterback Chris Simms established school single-season records for touchdown passes (26) and touchdowns accounted for (30).  His 3,207 passing yards and 3,083 yards total offense ranked second best for a single season.

Simms is second in Texas history with a 58.7 completion percentage (535-of-911) and second in passer efficiency rating (138.4).  He ranks second on the school’s all-time touchdown passes list (58) and fourth in passing yards (7,097).

One year earlier, Simms, the Big 12 leader in passing efficiency (144.25), started 12 games and threw 22 touchdown passes (No. 2 on UT’s season list) as the Longhorns posted a 10-2 record in his 12 starts.

Davis spent 1999 directing an offense that was the first in school 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 as the nation’s top assistant.  Major Applewhite set school season marks for passing yards (3,357) and total offense (3,211) en route to Big 12 co-Offensive Player of the Year honors.

In Davis’ first year at Texas in 1998, the Longhorns became just the second unit in NCAA Division I-A history to feature a 2,000-yard rusher (Ricky Williams) and passer (Applewhite), as well as a 1,000-yard receiver (Wane McGarity).  An early season injury forced redshirt freshman Applewhite into the lineup.  Applewhite went on to set school freshman records for passing yards (2,453) and touchdown passes (18).  He was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year.

Prior to his stint at Texas, Davis helped develop the quarterback 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.

Davis was the head coach at Tulane for four seasons (1988-91), where he succeeded Mack Brown.  He spent three seasons (1985-87) as assistant head coach and wide receivers coach at Tulane under Brown.  Davis spent two seasons (1992-93) as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Arkansas and two years (1994-95) as Georgia’s passing game coordinator before joining Brown at North Carolina.

While at Georgia, Davis helped lead the Bulldogs to the 1995 Peach Bowl despite injuries to the team’s top two quarterbacks.  He did so by preparing converted slot back Hines Ward for the starting quarterback position.  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.

Davis began his college coaching career at Texas A&M, serving as the Aggies’ quarterbacks coach (1978-84).  He then joined Brown as assistant head coach and wide receivers coach at Tulane in 1985.

Davis began his career in the high school ranks while working toward his 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.  The native of Groves, Texas, earned his bachelor’s degree (sports administration, 1973) and master’s degree (1977) from McNeese State.

Davis and his wife, Patsy, have two children, Greg Jr. 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.