Francis Marion University athletic officials have announced that
former Patriot athletic coach Tom C. Davidson and
former women's tennis players Mary Hirst and
Lee Whitwell, both two-time national champions,
will be the newest inductees into the FMU Athletic Hall of Fame on
Feb. 16, 2002.
Davidson, who died on March 16, 1996, was a
member of the Francis Marion athletic staff from 1972 to
1995. Among the many positions he held were assistant dean of
students (1972-83), assistant men's basketball coach (1972-74),
assistant baseball coach (1972-95), head men's soccer coach
(1983-93), coordinator for all athletic recruiting (1972-75), and
director of intramurals (1994-95). He also assisted in the area of
fund raising for the Patriot athletic program.
During his years assisting Gerald Griffin in the Patriot
baseball dugout, Francis Marion recorded a 549-323-1 record.
While head coach of the soccer program, he compiled a 61-104-12
mark, which at that time was the highest win total for any coach in
the history of the soccer program. His 1985 squad was the first
Patriot soccer team to qualify for post-season play. His 1990
squad went 14-5-0, a season record for victories that stood until
1998.
"Coach D" broadcast some Francis Marion and area high school
sports on the radio, and served on the executive committee for the
Carolina Classic High School Basketball Tournament. He was
involved with numerous civic activities and was an active member of
St. John's Episcopal Church.
Davidson earned the B.A. degree in psychology and physical
education from Emory and Henry College, where he received 11
varsity letters in three sports and was a member of that school's
Sports Hall of Fame. He earned the M.S. degree in physical
education from the University of Tennessee and did further study at
Stetson University and Florida State University.
Prior to coming to Francis Marion, he was an assistant baseball
coach at The Citadel for two years, and taught and coached at
several high schools in Florida for seven years.
