What Happened to Kermit John Davis Jr.?
Kermit Davis Jr. is an American college basketball coach known for successful stints at Middle Tennessee State University and an NCAA Tournament appearance with Ole Miss. After mutually agreeing to part ways with Ole Miss in February 2023, Davis was announced as an inductee into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Quick Answer
Kermit Davis Jr. most recently served as the head men's basketball coach for the Ole Miss Rebels from 2018 to 2023, where he led the team to an NCAA Tournament berth in his first season. He mutually agreed to part ways with Ole Miss in February 2023. As of February 2026, Davis was announced as an inductee into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026, recognizing his significant impact, particularly during his 16 seasons at Middle Tennessee State University.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
Youngest Junior College Head Coach
At age 24, Kermit Davis became the youngest junior college head coach in the nation at Southwest Mississippi Community College, compiling a 39-20 record in two seasons.
Youngest NCAA Division I Head Coach at Idaho
At 28, Davis was promoted to head coach at Idaho, becoming the youngest Division I head coach in the nation.
Back-to-Back NCAA Tournament Appearances with Idaho
Davis led Idaho to consecutive Big Sky regular season and tournament titles, earning NCAA Tournament berths in both 1989 and 1990.
Hired as Head Coach at Middle Tennessee State
Kermit Davis took over the Middle Tennessee program, beginning a highly successful 16-season tenure.
First Sun Belt Regular Season Championship at Middle Tennessee
Davis led Middle Tennessee to its first of two consecutive Sun Belt regular season titles.
Historic NCAA Tournament Upset of Michigan State
As a No. 15 seed, Middle Tennessee, under Davis, upset No. 2 seed Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, a landmark victory.
Another NCAA Tournament Upset vs. Minnesota
Middle Tennessee continued its NCAA Tournament success by upsetting No. 5 seed Minnesota in the first round.
Named Head Coach at Ole Miss
Davis returned to his home state, accepting the head coaching position for the Ole Miss Rebels after 16 seasons at Middle Tennessee.
SEC Coach of the Year and NCAA Tournament Berth with Ole Miss
In his first season, Davis led Ole Miss to a 20-13 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance, earning him SEC Coach of the Year honors.
Mutually Agrees to Part Ways with Ole Miss
After five seasons, Kermit Davis and Ole Miss mutually agreed to part ways, with the team holding a 10-18 record.
Announced as Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
Kermit Davis was named to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026, recognizing his impactful career, especially at Middle Tennessee State.
Father, Kermit Davis Sr., Passes Away
Kermit Davis Sr., a former Mississippi State player and head coach, passed away at the age of 91.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Kermit John Davis Jr. has had a long and impactful career in college basketball coaching, marked by significant achievements across multiple programs. Born on December 14, 1959, Davis followed in the footsteps of his father, Kermit Davis Sr., who was also a college basketball coach.
Davis began his head coaching career at a young age, becoming the youngest Division I head coach in the nation at 28 when he took over at Idaho in 1988. He led the Vandals to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 1989 and 1990. After brief stints at Texas A&M and Chipola Junior College, and an assistant role at Utah State, he returned to Idaho before serving as an associate head coach at LSU.
His most notable success came during his 16-season tenure as head coach at Middle Tennessee State University (2002-2018). Davis transformed the Blue Raiders into a formidable mid-major program, becoming the all-time winningest coach for both the school and the Sun Belt Conference. Under his leadership, Middle Tennessee captured multiple conference championships and made three NCAA Tournament appearances, including memorable upsets of No. 2 seed Michigan State in 2016 and No. 5 seed Minnesota in 2017.
In March 2018, Davis accepted the head coaching position at Ole Miss, returning to his home state. He made an immediate impact, leading the Rebels to a 20-13 record and an NCAA Tournament berth in his first season (2018-19), earning him SEC Coach of the Year honors. However, subsequent seasons saw a decline in performance, with only one other winning record (16-12 in 2020-21, ending in an NIT berth) during his five-year tenure.
On February 24, 2023, Ole Miss and Davis mutually agreed to part ways, with the team holding a 10-18 overall record and a 2-13 SEC record at the time. He left Ole Miss with an overall record of 74-79. Following his departure from coaching, Davis was recognized for his career achievements. In February 2026, he was announced as an inductee into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026, a testament to his significant contributions to basketball in the state, particularly at Middle Tennessee. On August 10, 2026, his father, Kermit Davis Sr., passed away at the age of 91.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Kermit John Davis Jr. made different choices?