Fullerton College Centennial

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STAFF STORIES: MARGO DAVIS

MARGO DAVIS

There may not be a bigger name in the California Community Softball Coaches Association circle than the name Margo Davis. After all, she’s already in the Softball Coaches Hall of Fame.

In 1958, when Davis began her tenure at Fullerton Junior College, she organized an annual high school sports day – that became a powerful recruiting tool. In addition to her softball duties, Margo coached volleyball, basketball, and field hockey. Fullerton was the first and last junior college in that era to win all four sport titles in the same year. In 1968, Davis, with her colleagues, became the originators of all competitive sports for girls and women. Fullerton JC organized and conducted the first invitational basketball tournament. In 1970, Margo presented the idea to the JC coaches to consider dividing the teams into leagues and having championship play-offs.

In 1983, as the women’s athletic director, Davis renovated the physical education offices and women’s lounge. In addition she played a major role in the first restructuring of the softball facility.

In 1989, after 31 years at Fullerton College, Coach Davis "announced her retirement," but as you can see, it lasted just - four years.

She returned to coaching in 1994 at Allan Hancock College, and it appears she didn’t lose anything in her time off as she led the Bulldogs to the Western State Conference Championship and a spot in the Southern California Regionals.

Davis has been working her magic in the community college ranks for years. She won a state title with Fullerton in 1980 and participated in numerous state tournaments in her 31 seasons with the Hornets. Her long time assistant coach, Johnnie Brooks, was a key component to the success of the program.

Her first coaching job was in the Navy in 1949, she was 21 and the only reason she got the job was because the other coach transferred. Margo had a lot of experience and took the position. "I remember my first game, I gave the batter a bunt sign with a runner on first base and she hit a home run. I benched her for disobeying the sign."

That’s the style and character that has kept Davis around for so long. In a field as political as community college softball, Davis has never been afraid to speak her mind. “You do it my way or you don’t do it, says Davis, who played for a state championship tournament in 1945 and became the first woman coach to win an Amateur Softball Association World Championship in 1961.