Truman State University Baseball Camps

Head Coach Dan Davis

Dan Davis is in his 14th season as the head coach of the Truman baseball program in 2020 after taking over in the summer of 2006. He previously served as the pitching coach at the NCAA Div. I University of Northern Iowa.

He is second among Bulldog Baseball Coaches in wins with 208 during the previous 14 years and has had 33 players earn all-conference honors.

He was named the America Baseball Coaches Association Midwest Coach of the Year following the 2015 season in which he led the Bulldogs to a school record 35 games, their first NCAA Tournament berth, a Midwest Regional Championship and a trip to the NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship Tournament. In addition to the coach of the year award, Davis’ Bulldogs were named the winners of the GLVC Sportsmanship Award for baseball.

The team repeated as Sportsmanship Winners in 2018 and were honored by the ABCA as they were one of 20 Division II programs our of 140 to earn the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award.

Davis has had 11 players earn conference player of the week honors, six Academic all-District selections and three CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. In addition, his teams are consistently among the top conference schools in terms of Academic All-Conference selections, averaging 20 players each season.

Davis’ teams are active in the community with volunteer service projects. They raised over $5000 in 2015 as part of the Vs. Cancer Foundation with a special event following a home game in which all the team members shaved their heads.

He also hosts several camps throughout the year, including a winter hitting league for area kids to hone their skills prior to the start of the season.

Since his arrival, the Truman Baseball Field has featured one of the best playing surfaces in the Midwest under his direction and care. The field has received numerous updates during his tenure including drainage and irrigation system installed, new backstop, scoreboard, press box and improved seating areas. Davis is one of the top fundraisers in the entire Truman Athletics department.

Prior to arriving at Truman, Davis served as the pitching coach at Northern Iowa from 2001-2006. When he arrived at UNI, the team featured an ERA just under eight, but Davis helped that number drop over the years to a low of 4.63 in 2006 – the lowest mark since the school moved to the Division I level. That year, his pitching staff struck out over 400 hitters for only the third time in school history, twice with Davis as the pitching coach.

Other highlights at Northern Iowa include helping the team win the 2001 Missouri Valley Conference tournament and advance to the NCAA tournament for the first time. That year, Davis coached Nic Ungs, the MVC Pitcher of the Year and a second-team all-American. Davis also coached a freshman all-American pitcher in 2002. During his time at UNI, Davis coached nine pitchers who signed professional contracts. None of the nine were drafted out of high school before eventually advancing to the professional level.

Davis also has coaching experience from his alma mater – SIU-Carbondale – as well as the El Dorado Broncos and Independence Community College.

Davis pitched for SIU in 1994 and 1995, and, in his first year at the school, broke a school record for innings pitched and led the team in strikeouts. The next year, he led the team in strikeouts and ERA, and tied for the team-high in wins. Davis was awarded the James J. Mundo Spirit award after his senior season.

After his collegiate career, he played professionally in the Frontier league for two seasons with the Kalamazoo Kodiaks and the Newark Bison.

Davis graduated from SIU in 1995 with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and received his Master’s degree in higher education and administration from the same school in 2000.

He and his wife, Heather, reside in Kirksville with their son; Dax Kadan.