LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Scott Davenport was surprised by his high school with a special honor.
Iroquois High School unveiled a banner that faces Taylor Boulevard that reads "Scotty's Iroquois" on Monday morning. The Bellarmine University men's basketball head coach graduated from Iroquois in 1974.
IMAGES | Scott Davenport honored with 'Scotty's Iroquois' banner at Iroquois High School
Scott Davenport was honored with a banner at Iroquois High School on Oct. 10, 2022.
Scott Davenport as seen in picture from a yearbook at Iroquois High School. (Photo courtesy of Jefferson County Public Schools)
Bellarmine coach Scott Davenport at a campus celebration for the team after winning the ASUN Tournament.
- Eric Crawford photo.
Scott Davenport was honored with a banner at Iroquois High School on Oct. 10, 2022.
Scott Davenport meets with former teammates as a banner in his honor is unveiled at Iroquois High School on Oct. 10, 2022.
Scott Davenport (right) as seen in picture from a yearbook at Iroquois High School. (Photo courtesy of Jefferson County Public Schools)
Scott Davenport looks out at a basketball court at Iroquois High School.
Scott Davenport (back row, second from left) as seen in picture from a yearbook at Iroquois High School. (Photo courtesy of Jefferson County Public Schools)
Scott Davenport was honored with a banner at Iroquois High School on Oct. 10, 2022.
Bellarmine head basketball coach Scott Davenport and his son Doug, an assistant who has been named the coach-in-waiting, watch the team during an exhibition on Oct. 28, 2021.
- Eric Crawford
Scott Davenport (middle) as seen in picture from a yearbook at Iroquois High School. (Photo courtesy of Jefferson County Public Schools)
Scott Davenport looks out at a basketball court at Iroquois High School.
Scott Davenport was honored with a banner at Iroquois High School on Oct. 10, 2022.
Bellarmine coach Scott Davenport lightens the mood by showing off his shooting skills during a practice before the ASUN Tournament.
- Eric Crawford photo.
Scott Davenport was honored with a banner at Iroquois High School on Oct. 10, 2022.
Bellarmine's Scott Davenport shouts to an official in the team's game against Florida Gulf Coast in an ASUN quarterfinal game in Freedom Hall.
- Eric Crawford
Scotty's Iroquois banner at Iroquois High School.
He returned to the school on Monday, thinking he was speaking to faculty and staff.
"I didn't have a clue," Davenport said.
Humbled beyond words!Thank YOU Dr. Taul, Mr. Zell, Coach Morrow!Teachers,Coaches,Principals shaped my life. Forever thankful.Thanks to incredibly special friends/teammates. Wouldn’t change 1 thing! YOU are the absolute BEST!Appreciate YOU! OUR Iroquois, OUR Community! pic.twitter.com/igp5hpD4T9
— Scott Davenport (@Bellarminehoops) October 10, 2022
The banner, reminiscent of the hometown hero displays honoring Louisville icons around the city, features a photo of Davenport coaching at Bellarmine University. Davenport's friends, family and former teammates were in attendance for the ceremony.
Davenport credited Iroquois with his success, which includes nearly 400 wins at Bellarmine and the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championship.
"It made me, and I'm appreciative every day," Davenport said. "If one young person says, 'he didn't have a dad, he walked these halls, his mother did everything she could do, and he did okay, maybe I can to.' It will all be worthwhile."
Scott Davenport (right) as seen in picture from a yearbook at Iroquois High School. (Photo courtesy of Jefferson County Public Schools)
After coaching at Ballard High School to 10 seasons, Davenport served as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville for Denny Crum and Rick Pitino before becoming the head coach at Bellarmine. Davenport has guided Bellarmine into a Division II powerhouse to transitioning to the Division I level.
Last season, Bellarmine finished the year with 20 wins in its second season in Division I. He was nominated for the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award and the Knights won the ASUN Conference Championship title.
Davenport wants the banner at Iroquois High School to provide inspiration to students.
"That it gives young people hope," Davenport said. "I had nothing to hold onto but hope, I had phenomenal teachers and coaches and counselors and principals. They shaped my life, and I'm appreciative every single day of my life of the impact they had. I hope I could be as extraordinary as they could in terms of making others better."
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