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Keith S. Davidson was named Director of Athletics at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) on March 2, 2007. UMES President Thelma B. Thompson announced his appointment at a press conference held in the William P. Hytche Athletic Center.
Davidson had served as Acting Director of Athletics at UMES since January 2006. Previously he was Associate Athletic Director for Compliance at UMES from May 2003 until last year.
"Mr. Davidson was the unanimous selection of the President's Athletic Advisory Committee following a national search," said President Thompson. "I am confident he will improve UMES athletics, guiding a program that will compete for championships in all sports in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
Most recently, Davidson can be credited with arguably the best year ever in Hawk Athletic history. Under his guidance the Hawks captured the 2008 NCAA National Championship in Women's bowling. It is the first NCAA title in school history. They became the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to ever win a women's national championship. The rest of his department also felt the success as they captured a total of four MEAC Championships (women's bowling, men & women's cross-country and women's indoor track & field). Two of his teams were also runners up to the MEAC title (volleyball and women's outdoor track and field). Because of that the women's teams at UMES finished second in the conference's All-Sports Award.
Last season, the department boasted five Coach of the Year honors, numerous All-conference selections and four All-Americans.
Beyond wins and losses, the athletic department made several other leaps, including expanding the media relations staff, resurfacing the court in the W.P. Hytche Athletic Center and constructing a new area for academics, including a renovated study hall and restructuring of the division. His commitment to academics has kept the Hawks at or near the top in graduation rates and academic performance for MEAC schools.
When he first started, Davidson's impact was felt immediately by the University. In 2006-07 UMES captured its second straight MEAC Championship in Bowling and made it all the way to the finals of the NCAA Bowling Championship before losing to Vanderbilt University. With that appearance, UMES became just the fourth HBCU team to make it to a National Championship.
From September 2001 to May 2003, Davidson was the Compliance Officer at Texas Southern University. In that multifaceted position, he coordinated and organized all phases of the compliance program including NCAA Athletics Certification, secondary and major NCAA rules violations, initial and continuing eligibility, financial aid, recruitment, and letters of intent. He also authored the department's gender equity plan. Davidson was the Assistant Athletic Director for Student Affairs at the University at Buffalo from January 1995 to March 1997.
He graduated from Lincoln (Pa.) University in 1985 with a B.A. in history. He earned his M.A. in political science in 1989 from the University of Central Oklahoma. A native of Philadelphia, Pa., Davidson has one son, Drew (13) and resides in Fruitland, Md. |
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