The Knox-Lombard Athletic Hall of Fame
Jim Davis was a four-year starter for the Knox College football team. He was an offensive lineman who spent a majority of his career blocking for Knox-Lombard Hall of Fame running back Kevin Megli.
Davis was a two-year captain and started all 40 games of his career, a Knox record. Davis was named the Harley Knosher Scholarship Award recipient in 2004 and the Dean Trevor Award Winner in 2005, both awarded for commitment to scholarship, community service, and competitive excellence. He was named second team All-Midwest Conference in 2005 and was an NCSA All-American.
Teammate Kevin Corley ’08 had high praise for Davis, saying, “Jim is the most well-rounded and passionate person I know. He has shown many that excellence on the athletic field, knowledge in the classroom, and passion for the fine arts are not mutually exclusive ideas. He is the embodiment of the ideals Knox College has built itself upon.”
After graduation, Davis played football for five more seasons. He spent two seasons as a Professional Indoor player in Illinois and then two seasons in Ireland in the Irish American Football League. He was named Most Valuable Player in the Irish League, picking up 12 sacks, 58 tackles, and a touchdown. His team, the University of Limerick Vikings won back-to-back Shamrock Bowls. He then played a season in Spain, where he led his team in tackles and won the National Championship.
Davis received his Master’s in Creative Writing from Northwestern University and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard. He has held art shows for his paintings, written five poetry books, and created a non-profit called the Good Athlete Project. The Good Athlete Project focuses on the power of athletics to build character and leadership. Davis has also held coaching positions at his high school, New Trier, since graduating from Knox. He is currently an assistant varsity football coach and the director of strength and conditioning.
"Jim was not only an outstanding offensive linemen, but also one of the most versatile linemen I have coached. He not only started every game in his career, but also at various times started at tackle, center, and guard,” said former head football coach Andy Gibbons. “Jim has continued that versatility in his post-Knox career in strength and conditioning, his art, and the Good Athlete Project. Jim has also been a tremendous alumni recruiter in helping make New Trier High School a pipeline for Knox Athletics."
