Former collegiate star and NFL linebacker James "Buster" Davis arrived in Ashland just prior to the 2016 fall camp to become Southern Oregon's defensive line coach.
A native of Daytona Beach, Davis is connected to SOU Head Coach Craig Howard (as well as Offensive Coordinator Ken Fasnacht) through their Florida roots. Davis played college football for Bobby Bowden at Florida State, where he was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team selection and a second-team NCAA All-American as a senior in 2006. He was drafted in the third round by the Arizona Cardinals in 2007 before landing with the Detroit Lions. After a promotion to the active roster and an appearance in one game for Detroit, he played six games (and started three) for the Indianapolis Colts in 2008.
His coaching career has included stops as an assistant at Glenville State (W.Va.) and University of South Dakota, though he was a high school head coach before landing at SOU. Most recently, he served as head football coach and athletic director at Massanutten Military Academy (Va.) in 2015.
Davis has two children: a son, Jordan (10), and a daughter, Toni (6). He is the son of Jackie and James.