March 12, 2001

The University of Notre Dame volleyball team has announced the hiring of assistant coach Robin Davis, most recently an assistant at Northern Arizona University, to the coaching staff.

“This is a very good fit in a lot of ways,” Irish head coach Debbie Brown says.

“He will complement (current assistant coach Steve Hendricks) and I very well and help push the program to the next level. We will gain as much from his addition to the staff as he will gain from us.”

Davis comes to Notre Dame after serving three years as the top assistant coach at Northern Arizona. He also posted 10 highly successful years as the head coach at Biola (Calif.) University. Davis left Biola in 1997 as the winningest coach in the history of the school, compiling 221 wins and a .734 winning percentage.

“Notre Dame was my first choice all the way,” Davis says.

“It is a perfect fit both coaching and career wise. The opportunity to work with Debbie and Steve and coach a top 25 program is something I am very excited about.”

Davis helped guide Northern Arizona to the NCAA tournament the last two seasons and a Big Sky co-championship in 2000. Northern Arizona also captured the 2000 Big Sky post-season tournament title. Davis served as NAU’s recruiting coordinator and was heavily involved in on-court coaching, focusing on the middle blockers, and helping with advanced scouting as well.

“Robin’s experience as both a head coach and an assistant will challenge the way we do things here,” Brown says.

“That is something I am looking forward to. He is a very good assistant and head coach and understands the importance of both roles.”

Davis led Biola to the NAIA national semifinals twice, including a loss in the title match in 1997. His Biola squads posted 20 wins six times, advanced to the regional semifinals seven times and captured two league titles. His Biola team also earned the national sportsmanship award in 1997.

Davis, a 1979 Northern Arizona graduate with a degree in physical education, has also served as athletics director and assistant principal at Brethren Christian High School in Huntington Beach, Calif., spending nine years coaching volleyball, basketball and baseball. He also coached two seasons at Redondo (Calif.) High School.

As a player, Davis was a member of the NAU men’s volleyball club while in college and spent time on the USVBA indoor tour (1979-85), the beach volleyball circuit (1982-1997) and the AVP tour (1986-87). He currently holds a AAA rating as an open player.