ST. PETERSBURG, FL - In March of 2017, Jay Davis came home to Pinellas County to coach St. Pete Catholic.
“We are going to have a culture here that is going to effect change,” said Davis during his introductory press conference at St. Pete Catholic.
Davis took over a program that had won just two games between 2014 and 2016. But he knew he could turn it around. After all, coaching runs in the family.
Davis played at Clearwater Central Catholic nearly 20 years ago – a rival school for St. Pete Catholic. His coach was his dad, John Davis. He won 174 games as head coach at CCC and countryside – 4th all-time in Pinellas County.
“When I was leaving middle school I wanted to go to St. Pete Catholic,” joked Davis back in 2017. “I was forced by my parents to go to Clearwater Central Catholic. Something about that head coach over there.”
Davis has leaned on his father’s knowledge of the game to help rebuild St. Pete Catholic into a winning program.
But the biggest lesson learned from dad – remembering to love your players.
“How he treats players,” said Davis. “And that’s why kids love playing for him and that’s what I am going to try to do here.
Fast forward to 2019 and the Barons are starting to turn heads. St. Pete Catholic won six games last season – a major accomplishment for the once winless Barons.
“Junior year we go positive for the first time in 5-6 years and that is just mind-blowing that it happened during my time here,” said senior offensive lineman Hunter Scheffsky.
“Everyone was pretty much playing for themselves,” recalled senior lineman Isaac Wells. “But now that Coach Davis is here it’s all family, we play for each other. So, he definitely changed that.”
Davis has focused on the details of the game. Making sure the Barons stayed committed to the process of getting better each and every day.
“You see the potential in this place: who we are bringing in, even from an administrative standpoint,” said Davis. “And really from the ground level being part of a faith-based institution that we can take the building blocks and really take this thing to where we want to.”
Davis knows how to build teams through consistency. He was a college coach for 10 seasons before finally scratching the itch to become a high school coach in the Bay Area.
“It’s fun - It’s high school football,” said Davis. “And in the area, as talent-rich as it is, its good football. It’s just fun and competitive and let’s get after it.”
What makes it fun is the bond built between players and coach. From teaching a sophomore quarterback:
“He’s really taught me how to read defenses very good, like how to pick out spots to throw in coverage,” said quarterback Cornelius Denmark. “He has the knowledge for this game that I need.”
To establishing a notable characteristic that the leaders have picked up on.
“It’s a stare and you can’t really explain it,” said Wells. “He’s got this look and when it happens we laugh and know something is going to happen.”
“Well, you know, sometimes I have to remind them of who I am,” joked Davis. “Just kidding, that’s false.”
Davis’ family atmosphere has been built thanks to a group of seniors who bought in to his philosophy from Day 1. While they may not be here for St. Pete Catholic’s final few steps of ascension in Florida…they know it was their efforts that brought the Barons program out from the darkness and into the light.
“I think that when I come back say a few years into college,” said Hunter Scheffsky. “I feel like it will be a completely different thing than when I came in.”
“When I come back I see the change and it will be crazy,” said Wells.
“It’s the ultimate goal for us to be *that* program,” said Davis. “We have goals right now to make the playoffs and then to build off the playoffs and then compete for championships. Now, these are long-term goals, we aren’t there yet, but that’s where we’re headed.
The foundation has been laid at St. Pete Catholic. The vision is in place. All that’s left to do is win. With a Davis leading the way that goal isn’t a dream anymore.
It’s a growing reality.