Davison Court Dedication
Feb 2, 2009 | University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
The University of Dubuque will be officially dedicating Jon Davison Court in the Stoltz Sports Center on Saturday, February 7, 2009. The dedication for legendary coach Jon Davison is planned to take place between the women's and men's basketball games versus the Central College Dutch. Tip-off for the games is 2:00 p.m. for the women team and approximately 4:00 p.m. for the men's team. A reception will be held following the men's contest.
Jon Davison (C'61), spent 42 years in the coaching and teaching profession. He started his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater in 1966. Davison logged over 300 wins in 27 seasons as head basketball coach at UD. He returned for his 40th season in the collegiate ranks in 2008 when he took over the men's golf program for the Spartans. He is also counsel to men's basketball and spends time re-connecting with Dubuque alumni as special projects coordinator for the Advancement Office.
A native of Aledo, Ill., Davison's squads posted an overall won-loss record of 371-320 and had four 20-plus win seasons in men's basketball.
During the 1980s, Davison's squads dominated the Iowa Conference, compiling the best won-loss record over that 10-year period. His 1986, 1988, and 1990 squads won the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) championship. The Spartans qualified for the NCAA Division III men's basketball national tournament in 1981, 1986, 1988, and 1990.
Davison was named Iowa Conference Coach of the Year in basketball in 1986, 1988 and 1990, and in golf in 1975. In 1990, he was awarded the Paul Maaske Award as Iowa's Small College Coach of the Year. He coached eight Conference Players of the Year at UD.
Davison served as director of athletics, head men's basketball coach (27 years), head golf coach (15 years), head track coach (6 years), head tennis coach (3 years), head cross country coach (10 years), head baseball coach (1 year), assistant football coach (8 years), associate professor of physical education and department chairman (20 years) at UD at various times from 1966 to 1993.
Davison lettered in four sports at UD, where he garnered four letters in both football and track, two in basketball, and one in baseball.
After a three-year hiatus from collegiate coaching, Davison joined the Clarke College coaching staff in 1996. He guided his 2005-06 squad to a 17-10 mark and its first Northern Illinois - Iowa Conference championship. Clarke finished 11-1 overall in league play. The Crusaders' championship season came on the heels of a 20-7 campaign in 2004-05.
Davison guided Clarke's men's golf program to seven straight Northern Illinois - Iowa Conference (NIIC) championships from 1999 to 2005. Davison was named the conference Coach of the Year in 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04. He was named the 2004-05 NIIC Co-Coach of the Year.
Davison met his wife, Nita (C'74), while a student at UD, and they have three children: Jane, James (C'89), and Joan (C'86).
