Paul E. Davis (February 3, 1922 – March 31, 2009) was an American

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

player and coach. He served as the head football coach at

Mississippi State University Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science, commonly known as Mississippi State University (MSU), is a public land-grant research university adjacent to Starkville, Mississippi. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Unive ...

from 1962 to 1966, compiling a record of 20–28–2.

Playing career

Davis grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, and attended Young High School there, where he was selected as caption of the school's football team in both 1940 and 1941. During World War II, he served in the United States Army in Europe.Strange, Mike
"Davis, former SEC coach, dies at 87"
''

Knoxville News Sentinel The ''Knoxville News Sentinel, also known as Knox News,'' is a daily newspaper in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States, owned by the Gannett Company. History The newspaper was formed in 1926 from the merger of two competing newspapers: ''The ...

'', March 31, 2009. Accessed April 6, 2009. He played

at the University of Mississippi after completing his military service.via '' Associated Press''
"Ex-Bulldogs coach Davis dies at 87"
'' ESPN'', April 1, 2009. Accessed April 1, 2009.

Coaching career

Davis was head coach at New Albany High School in

New Albany, Mississippi New Albany is a city in and the county seat of Union County, Mississippi, United States. According to the 2020 United States Census, the population was 7,626. History New Albany was first organized in 1840 at the site of a grist mill and saw mil ...

, before taking the reins of the Jones County Junior College football team, leading the Bobcats to a 9–0–1 mark and a state championship in 1951. He compiled a 34–11–3 record while coaching the team at Jones County Junior College from 1950 to 1954.Wansley, Shawn
"Ex-JCJC, MSU head football coach dies"
''

Laurel Leader-Call The ''Laurel Leader-Call'' is a thrice-weekly newspaper published Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in Laurel, Mississippi, United States, covering Jones County. It is owned by Gin Creek Publishing, which purchased the name and subscriber list f ...

'', April 2, 2009. Accessed April 6, 2009. He left to take a position as coach at Memphis State University, among other schools, before heading to

under head coach Wade Walker. He was the head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs football team from 1962 until 1966, with his teams going 20–38–2 overall and 9–22–2 in the Southeastern Conference in those five seasons. The team had a 7–2–2 record in 1963, earning its first postseason bowl game since 1939. The team finished the season with a 16–12 victory over North Carolina State in front of 8,309 fans at the

1963 Liberty Bowl The 1963 Liberty Bowl was a college football bowl game played at John F. Kennedy Stadium (Philadelphia), Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 21, 1963. The fifth edition of the Liberty Bowl was played between the 1963 Mis ...

played in a bitter cold Philadelphia. Mississippi State was able to convert two botched North Carolina State punts into touchdowns, and a 13–0 lead at the first quarter. United Press International named Davis the

SEC Coach of the Year Coaches and media of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) bestow the following individual awards at the end of each college football season. Player of the Year * 1933 college football season, 1933: Beattie Feathers, HB, 1933 Tennessee Volunteers footb ...

for the 1963 season. After a 2–8 record in the 1966 season, Mississippi State dismissed Davis, as well as athletic director Wade Walker.

Charles Shira Charles N. Shira (September 23, 1926 – January 2, 1976) was an American college football coach and athletic director. He served as head coach of Mississippi State University from 1967 to 1972 and compiled a combined record of 16–45–2. Shira r ...

, who had been defensive coach for the University of Texas, was named to fill both vacant positions. He was defensive coordinator and assistant head coach, among other positions, for the Auburn Tigers football team under Ralph Jordan (1967 to 1975),

Doug Barfield Doug Barfield (born March 14, 1936) is a former American football player and coach. Barfield was the head football coach at Auburn University from 1976 to 1980 where he compiled an on-field record of 27–27–1 during his five-year tenure. Aubur ...

(1976 to 1980) and Pat Dye (1987 to 1990), spending a total of 17 years with the team.

Death

Davis died at age 87 on March 31, 2009, at a hospice in Auburn, Alabama. He was survived by two children and two grandchildren.

Head coaching record

College

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Paul E. 1922 births 2009 deaths American football centers Alabama Crimson Tide football coaches Auburn Tigers football coaches Jones County Bobcats football coaches Memphis Tigers football coaches Mississippi State Bulldogs football coaches Ole Miss Rebels football players Temple Owls football coaches High school football coaches in Mississippi United States Army personnel of World War II Players of American football from Knoxville, Tennessee