Underemployed? Overqualified Davis Faces Groundbreaking Opportunity
Underemployment in the coaching community resembles beauty; it's in the eye of the beholder. Whether or not Mike Davis is overqualified to be coaching Texas Southern, he has an opportunity to become the first individual to post a winning record for a historically black college or university after serving in a similar capacity for a non-HBCU institution.
Davis guided Indiana to a runner-up finish in the 2002 NCAA Tournament, one of four playoff appearances for the Hoosiers under him, before averaging 23 victories annually with UAB in a four-year from 2007-08 through 2010-11. But it is not beneath his dignity to join the following list of HBCU coaches who previously were mentors for at least four seasons with a non-HBCU school:
| Head Coach | Subsequent HBCU (Record; Tenure) | Non-HBCU (Record; Tenure) |
|---|---|---|
| Frankie Allen | Maryland-Eastern Shore (34-89; since 2009) | Virginia Tech (56-61; 1988-91) |
| Tim Carter | South Carolina State (63-96; since 2008) | Texas-San Antonio (160-152; 1996-2006) |
| Mike Davis | Texas Southern (since 2013) | Indiana (115-79; 2001-06)/UAB (122-73; 2007-12) |
| Henry Dickerson | North Carolina Central (47-98; 2005-09) | Chattanooga (72-73; 1998-2002) |
| Dwight Freeman | Norfolk State (63-83; 2003-07) | Marshall (46-65; 1991-94) |
| James Green | Mississippi Valley State (44-51; 2006-08) | Southern Mississippi (123-111; 1997-2004) |
NOTES: Allen also coached Tennessee State (115-140; 1992-2000) and Howard (52-93; 2001-05). . . . Green is currently coach for Jacksonville State.