Inductees

Back in 1984 and, like any recent college graduate, Karen Davis was willing to climb the ladder from the bottom up in hopes of one day landing her dream job — as a high school volleyball coach.

That day came sooner than expected. Days before Davis was to begin teaching at St. Joseph’s Academy in St. Louis – she was to coach field hockey and track, plus serve as the cheerleading sponsor – athletic director Rosemary Wellington called with a change of plans. How about volleyball instead of field hockey?

Davis kept her reaction in check, “But behind the phone, I was jumping up and down.”

And that’s how it all began for Davis, who built St. Joseph’s volleyball into a national power over the next three decades. In fact, her success is why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted Davis with the Class of 2018.

In 23 seasons covering two different eras (1985 to 1999, 2007-2014), her teams compiled a record of 611-138 (.815). Along the way, they won eight state championships – the most for a coach in Class 4 — and played in 16 Final Fours. The state titles came in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2008 and 2010. She also was a 1996 National Coach of the Year.

And from the program emerged numerous All-Americans and dozens who earned college volleyball scholarships. Most notably there was Kristin Folkl, a star on Stanford University’s volleyball and basketball teams before going on into the WNBA – all after helping the Angels win their first four state volleyball titles.

This from a coach who developed a passion for the sport long before getting that phone call. You see, she played her final collegiate season with pretty much the use of only her left arm – she broke her other one, requiring surgery.

Thus, she had envisioned ways to put teams in position to enjoy successes and, years later, quotes from players and opposing coaches would explain why a hard-nosed coach – her description – fielded some of the state’s best teams. And they were still formidable after Davis returned to the sidelines after seven years as principal.

Said Davis, “One of my favorite players summed it up once: ‘Not only did you expect us to do A, B and C; you demanded we did A, B & C.’”

Linda Lampkin (MSHOF 2013), who won a state-best 793 matches and 11 state titles at Hermann High School, once said Davis’ players “could step off the court and coach” because of their volleyball IQ.

Overall, the Angels reflected their leader, a coach whose dad was a truck mechanic, whose mother was a stay-at-home mom and whose household with two other sisters and a brother grew up with few perks.

Before graduating from Francis Howell High School in 1979, Davis found her calling in coaching thanks to Steve Miller and Barb Dobbs. Later, Florissant Valley College coach Larry Adams emerged as a mentor, too.

“I liked how passionate (Miller) was about it,” Davis said. “He would talk to me about doing things right, and Dobbs instilled the importance of getting good grades and being a good person.”

At one point, Miller bought her catapult shoes for the track team because her family didn’t have the money.

Davis went on to win the state high jump in 1978 and 1979, becoming Francis Howell’s first state champion (individual or team), won the 1977 AAU national high jump title in 16-and-under and was a three-time all-conference in volleyball and basketball.

“(Adams) taught me more about mental toughness than any coach I ever had,” she said.

Little did he know that his attention to detail was being scribbled in Davis’ mental notes.

Davis, having transferred to Florida International after earning two all-conference awards, suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. After surgery and transferring to Missouri-St. Louis, she learned to use her left arm and then earned all-conference.

Soon, she had her dream job at St. Joseph’s.

Looking back, Davis can’t say enough thank-yous to all those who made it possible: Wellington, athletic directors Michaela Witcher and Maureen McVey, parents and players as well as her husband, Steve.

After all, she put tons of hours, including as the do-almost-everything president of the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association, which inducted her in 2011. She also is the only Missouri high school coach inducted into the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

“Not only did I find my niche but my niche found me,” Davis said. “I was blessed to hired by St. Joseph’s Academy.”