Bellarmine University men’s basketball coach Scott Davenport, who has taken the Knights to new heights, has agreed to a contract extension.
Davenport will stay on the home bench at Knights Hall at least through the 2019-20 season. Although university policy contracts are not created for employees, BU President Dr. Jospeh McGowan confirmed that the two parties have come to an agreement.
“We are thrilled to have made assurances to keep Scott Davenport as the Bellarmine head basketball coach for another five years,” McGowan said in a statement released Tuesday. “He has demonstrated an absolute dedication to excellence both as a coach and as an ambassador of Bellarmine University.”
Davenport, who started at the school in 2005, has amassed an impressive 232-82 record and 73.9 winning percentage in turning the Knights into one of the top programs in NCAA Division II. Before his arrival Bellarmine was abysmal, posting losing records in six of its previous seven seasons. Since then the Knights have had only one losing season (Davenport's second) and have seven consecutive seasons of at least 23 victory. In that time Bellarmine has become known for its entertaining style of play, which at times has been more fun to watch than the Division I school in town.
The Knights' meteoric rise culminated with its first-ever national title in 2011, when Davenport earned national and Great Lakes Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors, and has led the Knights to the D-II national semifinals in three of the past five seasons. This season Bellarmine finished 31-4 and lost to eventual champ Florida Southern 79-76 in the Final Four.
“I have been thrilled to be the head basketball coach at Bellarmine the last 10 years,” Davenport said. “I am very appreciative of the players, Dr. McGowan, (Athletic Director) Scott Wiegandt, the entire university, my family and especially the very, very loyal fans who have supported our program. Our university is a very special place, a place where everyone works together to be the best they can be every day. This is where I want to be. Just like I tell the players every day when you find a great situation spend all your efforts, energy and enthusiasm making that the best decision you have ever made. Bellarmine is a tremendous environment to coach super young men on and off the floor. I am looking forward to spending the rest of my career at Bellarmine because sincerely, I love Bellarmine!”
Prior to coming to BU, Davenport was an assistant coach at the University of Louisville under a pair of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers - Denny Crum and Rick Pitino. Before that he was a successful head coach at Ballard High School, where he guided the Bruins to the 1988 state title and coached Allan Houston and DeJuan Wheat.
Bellarmine likely felt the need to lock up Davenport after his name had been mentioned for some Division I openings, including Eastern Kentucky. That job went to another former Pitino protege, Dan McHale.
Photo courtesy Bellarmine University Athletics Facebook Page
