Russ Davis, member of both the NAIA, Orange County FCA, and Vanguard Halls of Fame, joined Vanguard with a reputation as one of the top high school coaches in California. He was Coach of the Year for the CIF, State Division II, Orange County Register, and the Costa Mesa Daily Pilot, and was twice selected to be the head coach of the OC All-Star game.

Davis’ success continued at Vanguard when he joined the coaching team in 1996. Since 2002, Davis’ teams have ranked in the Top 25 every year and ranked number one in the nation more than 40 times. Coach Davis led 11 teams to the Elite Eight and 5 teams to the Fab Four at the NAIA National Championship, with the 2008 team winning the Championship. Overall, his teams have made 21 trips to the NAIA National Tournament. Coach Davis has 35 wins at the Tournament, ranking him the highest of any active coach.

Six of Davis’ players have been voted as National Players of the Year, an accomplishment no other coach in the NAIA has achieved. Vanguard has had 15 First-Team All-Americans and 67 NAIA Scholar Athlete All-Americans under Russ Davis.

Davis’ teams have captured 12 GSAC titles while being named GSAC Coach of the Year 9 times. He’s also a four-time NAIA Coach of the Year and is the all-time leader in wins and winning percentage for the GSAC.

Davis was named the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) National NAIA Coach of
the Year award in 2005 and 2009, and WBCA’s Coach of the Year for the West Region in 2006. In 2007, Davis earned the NAIA’s National Coach of Character and added the NAIA Coach of the Year to his accolades in 2008.

Beyond Vanguard, Russ is a National Rater for the NAIA and previously served as President and Vice President for the NAIA WBCA, whose board on he has served on since 2005. He is also a member of the NAIA All-American and Kodak Women’s Basketball All-America committees.

In addition to his Vanguard responsibilities, Davis coaches the Nike Cal Swish girls’ club team
of Orange County, winners of the 2009 Nike National Championships, and he was selected as a court coach for USA Basketball on two occasions.

He is a man strong in his faith, and you can always count on him if you need advice, help, or just a prayer—on or off the court.

Leigha (Bednar ’14) McConnell

The staple of the program is family, and from the assistant coaches down to the women he recruits, we truly are a family.

Michaella Elad ’20, MA ’22

Great coaches make an impression on a young person’s life. I’m thankful to have been coached by one of the greatest.

Maya Kennedy ’17