Dick Davey

Who is Dick Davey?

Dick Davey is an American college basketball coach, and the associate head men's basketball coach at Stanford University under head coach Johnny Dawkins. Davey is best known as head men's basketball coach at Santa Clara University from 1992-2007.

Davey was born and raised in Ceres, California and attended the University of the Pacific, lettering in baseball and basketball. He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants and played in their minor-league system for two years. Davey then coached at San Jose's Leland High School for three years before becoming an assistant coach at Cal in 1971.

After serving as assistant to longtime Broncos head coach Carroll Williams since 1977, Davey was elevated to head coach after the 1992 season with Williams' move to Athletic Director. In his first season, Davey's Broncos finished third but won the WCC tournament and became only the second 15-seeded team to win in the first round, defeating 2-seed Arizona 64-61.

Led by future NBA MVP Steve Nash, Santa Clara would go on to win the West Coast Conference regular season in 1994-1995 and 1995–1996 and garner NCAA Tournament berths. The 10-seed Broncos beat Maryland in the first round in 1996. Santa Clara was expected to falter after Nash's departure to the NCAA in 1997, but again won the league title led by long range bomber Marlon Garnett. Despite modeste achievements in several subsequent injury riddled seasons Davey was awarded a seat on the NABC Board of Directors by his fellow coaches and Mid-Season coach of the year honors by CollegeInsider.com in 2003 "for doing more with less" while starting 4 walk-ons on an injury plagued squad. Over the course of his career Davey's teams, even when undermanned developed the reputation of Giant Killers with the Broncos shocking five top 25 teams during his tenure with one of the most stunning being a victory over eventual NCAA champion North Carolina in 2004.