Matt Davis returns for his sixth year with the program for the 2019 season. He serves as the RedHawks’ pitching coach.
Miami’s pitchers have shown improvement each season under Davis’ tutelage. In 2018, the RedHawks recorded a team ERA of 4.34 as part of a 35-20 campaign and second place finish in the Mid-American Conference. Gus Graham was named First-Team All-MAC with a 7-1 record and a 3.24 ERA in 83.1 innings. Andy Almquist was named Second-Team All-MAC as a reliever after appearing in 11 conference games with a minuscule 0.90 ERA.
In addition RedHawk pitchers Zach Spears and Nick Ernst were selected in the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft. It was the first time Miami had two pitchers selected in the same season since 2007.
Davis helped the Miami University pitching rotation develop into a driving force for a MAC East title during his inaugural season as assistant coach in 2014.
In 2013, Davis helped lead Ohio Dominican into the GLIAC Tournament for the first time in program history, as the Panthers reached the championship round. He spent that season assisting veteran coach Paul Page, owner of over 900-career victories. On the mound, the Panthers lowered their team ERA from 5.10 in 2012 to 4.37 in 2013 under Davis' tutelage, while the ODU hurlers also fired 34 more strikeouts under Davis (261 in 2013) compared to 2012 (227). He coached pitcher Dan Mooney to Honorable Mention All-GLIAC honors in 2013, as well.
Prior to coaching at Ohio Dominican, Davis was the head varsity baseball coach at Novinger High School in Missouri. During the 2012 season, he guided Novinger to its most wins since 2005 and a berth in the district championship game. He also served as the pitching coach at Mason High School near Cincinnati and an assistant coach at Upper Arlington High School in Columbus. Upper Arlington won a district championship in 2010 and Davis helped develop two pitchers who landed on Division I programs.
As a player at Ohio State, Davis led the Buckeyes to three-straight Big Ten championships(2001-03) and one NCAA Regional title (2003) from 2001-03 under Hall of Fame head coach Bob Todd. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2003 and was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the seventh round of the 2003 draft. Davis left OSU as the program's all-time saves leader with 14 and currently ranks fourth, while his 12 saves in 2003 were also a single-season record and still rank second.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Davis spent seven years playing professional baseball, including four seasons in the Indians' minor league system. He also played in the Chicago White Sox system, appearing in 286 games during his pro career while racking up 67 career saves.
Prior to his career at Ohio State, Davis was a standout at Mason High School where he developed under Hall of Fame head coach Ken Gray.
Davis and his wife, Jamie, have three sons, Matthew, Andrew and Eli. They reside in Oxford. He finished his undergraduate at Ohio State in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology.
