Shippensburg University Athletics

Bobby Davis of Fayetteville was head coach of the Shippensburg University softball team for 16 seasons from 1985 to 2000.  He was the winningest coach in the history of the team. During his tenure the Lady Raiders compiled an impressive 449-204-4 record for a winning percentage of .686. At the time of his retirement following the 2000 season he was ranked among the top 15 winningest coaches in the NCAA Division II.

Shippensburg consistently was one of the strongest teams in the Pennsylvania State Atheltic Conference (PSAC).  In his 16 years, Davis guided his teams to nine PSAC tournament appearances. Shippensburg also played in five NCAA tournaments. Shippensburg was conference runnerup four times, including three years in a row from 1997 to 1999.  In 1997 and 1998 the Lady Raiders were second behind the eventual national champion. Shippensburg also was NCAA regional runnerup in 1992 and 1997.  In 1993 the team led the NCAA Division II with 23 home runs in 33 games. The Lady Raiders won 42 gmes in 1995 and broke the 40 victory mark again in 1997 and 1998. Davis was named PSAC Eastern Division Coach of the Year in 1998.

Before coming to Shippensburg Davis coached on several levels. He was the head coach for the Chambersburg High School team in 1983 and led the Lady Trojans to a 16-5 record and a third place finish in the PIAA state champioships. He was the Lady Raiders’ assistant coach for a year before assuming the head coach position.

Davis is retired from a 36 year career in government service. His last position was computer systems analyst for the Lettterkenny Army Depot near Chambersburg.

A native of St. Clairsville, Ohio, Davis graduated from St. Clairsville High School in 1953. He attended Ohio University and served in the U.S. Air Force for five years.