Ed Davis, an assistant football coach at Christopher Newport, died Monday afternoon following a brief battle with cancer. He was 58.
Davis was in his third season on the CNU staff, coaching quarterbacks and calling offensive plays. He missed the past three games as he underwent treatment, but continued to coach and advise the staff via telephone and the Internet.
“Ed Davis was a huge part of our success at CNU over the last few years,” CNU coach Matt Kelchner said in a release from the athletic department. “We were fortunate to have him on our staff. Coach Davis spent more than 30 years coaching football, and made a huge impact on the lives of thousands of student-athletes. He was truly a great guy, and we will miss him dearly.”Davis had a persistent cough and at times diminished energy during preseason. Doctors initially believed it to be a respiratory ailment. Further tests revealed cancer.
He began immediate treatment and spoke with friends and colleagues as recently as late last week about continuing to coach. But his condition worsened precipitously last weekend, and he passed Monday.
Davis served as an assistant coach at Rice, Texas Tech, Temple, James Madison and Northeastern. Prior to coming to CNU, he was on the staff at Dean College in Massachusetts.
According to the release from CNU, Davis is survived by his wife, Diane, and four sons. Funeral arrangements in Massachusetts are pending, and a memorial service will be scheduled on the CNU campus soon.
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