The 2021-22 Davidson Athletics Annual Report

7/7/2022

Dear Wildcat,

One of the challenges for Davidson Athletics revolves around sustained excellence. No one wants to be good one year but not the next. We try to embrace a level of championship competitiveness across all our programs, putting ourselves both individually and collectively in the hunt every year. The 2020-21 year was a good year, even amidst persistent challenges with COVID. We won in the classroom. We won on the courts, on the fields, on the track, on the mat and in the pool. And we won in the community through leadership and service. Here is the exciting part – the 2021-22 season was even better!

I could not be prouder of the Davidson Athletics and Davidson College community. Our scholar-athletes, coaches, and administration embraced our core values of C.A.T.S. – Consistency, Accountability, Teamwork and Success. We leaned even further into our strategic foundation of doing athletics right: High-level athletics, high-level academics, no compromise. A renewed commitment to cultivating a diverse, inclusive, and accountable environment. Continued enhancement of our sports performance and mental wellness platforms. The launch of the Curry Family Women’s Athletics Scholarship Initiative as part of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX. Moving forward with the Athletics Done Right – The Next Step facility project which will transform this campus and community. And so much more. We took another step in the bold but attainable directive to become one of the best athletic programs in the country.

This past year saw an incredible 332 Davidson scholar-athletes on the Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll for achieving GPAs of 3.0 or higher – most in the A-10! Countless Conference Player/Rookie of the Week, Conference Player of the Year, All-Conference, All-Tournament and All-Academic selections. Numerous team, program, individual and statistical records. Individual and team NCAA qualifiers as well as All-Americans. Another (!!!) nationally recognized and prestigious Watson Fellowship. Two Conference championships. Four (4!) Coaches of the Year. Simply put – this has been one of the best years in Davidson Athletics history.

The 2021-22 Annual Report is a testament to some incredible moments, created by our amazing scholar-athletes and cultivated by our dedicated coaches, faculty, and staff. It is a testament to the passion, generosity and support exhibited by the faithful Davidson community. And it is a testament to the sustained excellence of Davidson Athletics and this special community. It was another year for the history books, and we remain excited for not just where we are but more so where we are going. As always, it is a great day to be a Wildcat.

Sincerely,

Chris Clunie '06, Director of Athletics

FOOTBALL

Football repeated as Pioneer Football League champions after finishing the season with an 8-3 overall record and a 7-1 performance in conference play, including a seven-game win streak.
The ‘Cats were one of 10 teams to qualify for the FCS playoffs in both the spring and fall of 2021.
Davidson finished the regular season ranked first in the country in rushing offense (348.4 yards per game) and 3rd down conversion percentage (54.3%).
Head coach Scott Abell was named the PFL Coach of the Year for the second year in a row. In the two 2021 seasons, Abell led a program that went 11-2 in the PFL – the best in the league over that span.
A record 68 Wildcats were named to the PFL Academic Honor Roll. Seven 'Cats were also named to the All-PFL First and Second Teams, while an additional 10 earned honorable mentions.
Jonathan Hammond and Coy Williams were named HERO Sports All-Americans.