BEAUMONT, Texas – Will Davis, who has served on staff at one of the nation's most prestigious programs in LSU for eight seasons, will take over the reins of the Lamar University baseball program following the conclusion of the 2016 season, announced Director of Athletics Jason Henderson Friday morning.
 
Davis' era as skipper will begin following the retirement of LU's legendary head coach Jim Gilligan, who announced his plans for his final season in September. LU will formally introduce the new skipper following end of the 2016 seasons for both team.
 
"Will impressed several people during his interview with his baseball acumen, belief in academics and plans for the Lamar University baseball program," said Henderson. "I believe he will come in and immediately put us in a place to be successful and challenge for league titles and postseason play."
 
Davis, 31, has seen tremendous success with his alma mater, including a 2009 College World Series Championship, in which LSU downed Texas in three games. That season wrapped up with a 56-17 record, one of three 50-win campaigns with Davis on staff.
 
Davis has been a part of four College World Series teams, three Southeastern Conference Championship and five SEC Tournament Championship teams. He has advanced to at least the NCAA Regionals every season but one he has been on staff and won five SEC West Division Championships.
 
"I am honored and thankful to be named the next head baseball coach at Lamar University. When Jason called me to tell me the wonderful news, I couldn't help but think how blessed and lucky I am," said Davis. "Today is the day I have dreamed about ever since I was a young boy watching my dad impact young men's lives in the dugout as a head coach at a (NCAA) Division I university."
 
His father, Randy Davis, was the head coach at Louisiana Tech.
 
"Lamar Baseball is Jim Gilligan's life work. I plan to continue his legacy," said the next skipper. "I will lead a program that the fans, community, and Lamar University will be excited to follow and support."
 
He began his coaching career as the director of baseball operations at LSU in 2008, but was quickly promoted to assistant coach just one year later. Since, the Baton Rouge, La. native has coached in both the first and third base boxes along with the catcher and outfield position groups. He was a student assistant and bullpen coordinator in 2007 after his playing career ended.
 
Since he was designated as a recruiter, directed to find Louisiana prospects, in 2011, he has aided the Tigers to five-straight top-10 ranked signing classes, including the 2014 group that was voted No. 1 by Perfect Game. In that time, he has recruited four student-athletes from Louisiana alone that were eventual top 10 round picks in the Major League Amateur Baseball Draft.
 
He was key in recruiting Kade Scivicque who was picked as a first-team All-American and fourth-round draft pick. Not only did Davis recruit Scivicque, but after Davis was given the catchers position group he developed the senior into a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award, annually given to the nation's top catcher.
 
He was also a key component of Mark Laird's career, a ninth round selection in the MLB draft and All-SEC Defensive Team member; Laird was recruited out of Monroe, La. by Davis. His judge of talent extends to the mound as well, he found and signed Austin Bain who was able to claim a spot in LSU's weekend rotation as a freshman.
 
Other than the Tigers' top recruiting class in 2014, they ranked fourth in 2012, seventh in 2011 and 2015 and 10^th in 2013. Along with his recruiting responsibilities, he was the director of the LSU Showcase Camps, which has aided in the discovery and signing of 37 high school athletes.
 
The former catcher began his work with the position in 2015, and helped two catchers on staff get drafted in the same draft, Scivique and Chris Chinea. Chinea was taken in the 17^th round.
 
Under his tutelage, LSU's outfielders have gained a reputation as being one of the best position groups in the nation. In 2013, the Tiger outfield committed just one error in 68 games. He helped in the development of Mikie Mahtook, now a major leaguer with the Tampa Bay Rays. He was an All-SEC Defensive Team selection along with Laird (2015) and Andrew Stevenson (2014-15).
 
Offensively, he helped with the development of position players at the plate. Last season, the Tigers led the SEC in 10 offensive categories, including batting average with a .322 mark. In 2014, they ranked second in the league in scoring (6.3 runs per game) and slugging percentage (.415). LSU led the conference in hits (722), doubles (128) and total bases (1,023), and ranked second in batting average (.305), runs (439), runs batted in (394), home runs (47), on-base percentage (.389) and slugging (.432) in 2013.
 
He was also in charge of LSU's Baseball Camps, the director for the "Coaches Committee" booster club, direct liaison of the LSU Baseball Alumni and oversaw all summer baseball placements for LSU's athletes.
 
"Lamar Baseball has the student-athletes, the academic and community support, the rich recruiting and the facilities that make the possibilities endless," said Davis. "I must thank Jason Henderson and the rest of the search committee for this opportunity.
 
"I am excited to be working with a first-class athletic department and university," he said. "I can't wait to speak with our student-athletes and begin preparations for an exciting baseball future."
 
Davis was a Tiger from 2004-07, and was a letterman on the 2004 College World Series team.  He is married to the former Danielle Hall of Bogalusa, La., who was a member of the LSU Golden Girl squad. He graduated with a bachelors in secondary education (2007) and masters in kinesiology (2010). He was born May 29, 1984.
 
LSU HEAD COACH PAUL MAINIERI'S THOUGHTS:
"I am so happy for Will to have received this tremendous opportunity....and he is ready for it. To have the challenge of following in the footsteps of one of the giants of college baseball, Jim Gilligan, is a great honor and responsibility that Will Davis will embrace.

"Will has been an integral part of our staff since I arrived at LSU more nine years ago. In fact, I literally have not coached a game at LSU without Will by my side in the dugout. I have watched him grow as a coach and have no doubt he will prove to be a great selection by Lamar University. With each passing year he was given more and more responsibility and he handled every task with amazing competence. Will is an extremely intelligent baseball man. He knows the game and, having grown up his whole life around the sport in a coaching family, he is well prepared for this next chapter in his career. He loves the players and they love him because he will get in the trenches and work like crazy with them. He has been a loyal confidant of mine for the better part of a decade and I will always be in debt to him for his unequivocal dedication to the LSU Baseball program and to me personally. I couldn't be more happy for Will and Danielle as they embark on this journey in their lives." 

FORMER LSU HEAD COACH SKIP BERTMAN'S THOUGHTS:
"Will Davis comes from a great coaching background, having worked with Smoke Laval, Paul Mainieri, and others as well. His dad was a baseball coach and Will has been to the park since he was in preschool. Lamar has a great history in baseball and is a wonderful school.  I think they made a great choice in Will Davis." 

Will Davis' Coaching Career
2008-2016, Assistant Coach, Louisiana State
    Director of Operations (2008)
    1st Base Coach, Outfielders (2009-12)
    3rd Base Coach, Outfielders (2013-14)
    3rd Base Coach, Outfielders, Catchers (2015-16)
 
Championships as a Coach:
Eight Years as a Coach/Director of Operations
1x National Champion- 2009
4x College World Series Participant- 2015, 2013, 2009, 2008
7x NCAA Regional Participant - 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008
3x SEC Champion- 2015, 2012, 2009
5x SEC Tournament Champion- 2014, 2013, 2010, 2009, 2008
5x SEC West Division Champion- 2015, 2013, 2012, 2009, 2008