By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director

MONT ALTO, Pa. – The Penn State Mont Alto department of athletics and its softball program were saddened to learn of the death of former head coach Bobby Davis. The softball program and Penn State Mont Alto extend our sincerest condolences to his family, friends and the numerous student-athletes that he has coached and mentored during his illustrious career as a head coach.

"We lost a great coach, community leader, mentor, and a great friend," shared current Mont Alto head coach Heath Newell. "Coach Davis was one of my mentor's when I started coaching. He shared with me many of his great accomplishments, training methods, how to bring fun and winning to the game of softball and was never afraid to give me or the players his opinion on things."

Davis coached the Nittany Lions from 2009-2014, while coaching he was named PSUAC Coach of the Year in 2013 and his squad were crowned the PSUAC Champions after the 2011 season. Prior to coaching on the Mont Alto campus, Bobby Davis was an influential member of the coaching community in the Franklin County Area.

He coached at Shippensburg University from 1985-2000 where he compiled an impressive 449-204-4 record. Davis guided the Raiders to nine PSAC Tournaments and five NCAA Tournaments and was inducted into the Raiders Hall of Fame in 2001. Coach Davis also served as head coach at Chambersburg and Shippensburg High Schools and he was one of the original founders of the Guilford Athletic Association.

"Coach will be missed, but never forgotten," said Newell. "I always remember the things he has done and shared with me, my players and our community, and promise I will pass that on…that legacy to future coaches and players."

The obituary for Bobby Davis can be found here.