Troy University Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2017
The all-time winningest coach at Troy and an integral piece in the foundation and formation of the Troy softball program, former head coach Melanie Davis compiled a 780-506-4 record in her 21 seasons at the helm. She led the Trojans to a pair of conference titles in 1996 and 2005, and one NCAA regional berth in 1996.Â
Davis began her long career with the Trojans as both the head softball and volleyball coach in 1993 before choosing to focus on softball full-time in 1996.
“She juggled a lot,” Troy’s Senior Woman Administrator and a player under Davis, Sandy Atkins said. “I can remember one time we were playing in a softball tournament in Nashville and the volleyball team had a tournament there at the same time. We would go watch the volleyball team play the night before and then they would come watch us play the following day. We didn’t think anything of it at the time; it was just part of what we did. She made it a lot of fun, and it was also extremely rewarding because we were very successful in the years that I played here.”Â
Turning her attention to softball full-time, Davis became a member of several exclusive clubs including the Alabama Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame, ASA Alabama Hall of Fame, the West Alabama Softball Hall of Fame, the Wiregrass Hall of Fame and a member of the National Fastpitch Association’s 900-win club. The key to her success seemed to be her ferocity and passion on and off the field.Â
“She is probably the fiercest competitor I have ever been around,” Atkins said. “She hated losing at all costs, but that made her an extremely confident and extremely strong coach. She pushed you to be the best you could be. When you thought you couldn’t give anymore she was always able to get the most out of you, that was one of her greatest strengths as a coach.”
Being no stranger to taking on multiple responsibilities and wearing many hats within athletics, Davis became Troy’s Senior Woman Administrator for the athletic department in 1998 and passed the job off to Atkins in 2004.Â
“She was a huge catalyst in bringing me here,” Atkins said. “She willingly gave up that title. I truly believe because she knew that would help me grow, and that just speaks of her unselfishness.”Â
Davis’ unselfishness was a trait that was recognized by many. She always made herself available to help a student-athlete or a friend tackle any problem they had. She wanted Troy softball to be able to compete and be successful in the conference, not to build on her personal attributes, but for her love of the program and Troy University.
She worked hard to help those around her find success in softball and in life, but more importantly, she taught her students how to do the right thing.Â
“She took interest in every single student who came through, not just on the field, but off the field as well,” Atkins said. “She made sure they were good people, and she was always there to help them through troubles that they might have had. She is always giving of herself and is so committed to the things that she felt strongly about family, animals, softball, Troy and her friends. She gives 110 percent in every aspect of her life and she expects the same from her students.”
Troy University has one of the best softball facilities in the conference, and Davis is a huge part of that. Not only did she build a tradition of success, but she had a huge hand in building grade-A facilities to elevate the program even more.Â
A native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., Davis received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Alabama. She began her coaching career at Brewer State Community College, now Bevill State, where she was head coach of the softball, volleyball and women’s basketball programs before coming to Troy.
