LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Scott Davenport and I disagree on the first time we shook hands. He believes it was in 1979. I believe it was early in 1980.
Let’s just say that it happened some point during the 1979-80 local high school basketball season.
I was the preps sports reporter for the Louisville Times, an afternoon newspaper that has been out of business for nearly 40 years. He was the junior varsity coach for Ahrens High School, at the corner of First Street and Muhammad Ali Blvd.
Other than the date, we agree on everything else. For as long as we’ve both had time, we’ve had rousing conversations about our shared love everything about basketball.
High school basketball. College basketball. Pro basketball. Playground basketball. Pickup basketball. Who to watch, what to see, where to go, why it mattered.
I can’t tell you that I learned Davenport, 68, would proceed to win a Kentucky high school championship at Ballard, serve an incredible, one-of-a-kind apprenticeship for dual Hall of Famers Denny Crum and Rick Pitino at the University of Louisville, win a Division II national title at Bellarmine University and supply the drive and vision to transition Bellarmine to its current status in the Division I ASUN Conference.
I didn’t know that. Davenport did not know that.
But what I did learn that day was Davenport was different than the basic JV coach. Different energy, strictly high octane. Different curiosity level, eager to learn something from every conversation. Different commitment to his hometown, determined to make it better.
And Monday, with the official news that Davenport’s long and remarkable 47-year coaching career was ending with his retirement as Bellarmine’s head coach, I can’t write another word about him without saying what I always say when people ask me about his body of work.
Some guys coach. Some guys win championships. Some guys achieve at high levels.
But only a few guys make a difference. Scott Davenport made a difference. For me, that’s his legacy.
Made a difference at every high school where he worked. Made a difference at U of L, where both Crum and Pitino entrusted him with important work.
Made a difference at Bellarmine, where he woke up a dormant program and elevated it into a community treasure.
Made a difference with his players, who he drove to excel as students, teammates, sons, brothers and citizens as much as they did on the basketball floor.
I’m not the only one raising my hand saying that. I asked Mick Cronin, the head coach at UCLA, to text me his thoughts on Davenport’s legacy. They’ve been friends since they worked together for two seasons on Pitino’s first staff at U of L.
In less than five minutes, this is how Cronin replied:
“Scott Davenport is Louisville,” Cronin said.
“Nobody has done more in basketball in the city than Scott Davenport has done on every level. Personally he has mentored me as a coach and as a man and I love him like a brother.
“I am thrilled that after 47 years he is retiring to relax a little, but I know Scotty and he will find a way to continue to make positive impact on the community!”
Like Davenport, University of Louisville football coach Jeff Brohm has deep roots in this community and immense respect for what Davenport achieved on the high school and college levels. I asked Brohm for his thoughts on what Davenport achieved.
In less than 10 minutes, this is how Brohm replied:
“Scott Davenport has always been a tremendous ambassador for the city of Louisville, and a great example of a hometown product who worked his way up from the grass roots to elevate his sport and his program to unprecedented heights,” Brohm said.
“I go all the way back to playing against his Ballard teams (Brohm played basketball at Trinity), and then watched him help the Cards and then build Bellarmine into a champion. Congrats Scotty, and thanks for the example you have set for all of us.”
Eric Crawford and I talked with Davenport for nearly an hour Monday afternoon at Knights Hall. We expected it to be emotional. It was emotional.
Davenport lost his father when he was 9 years old. Sunday, the day Davenport decided to step away as his son, Doug, prepares to replace him, was his father’s birthday.
Tears nearly stopped him from talking when he tried to imagine what his father would say about his long, eventful career.
He made certain to credit his mother for much of his success, always remembering that she taught him to respect and learn from his coaches.
“Her message was they’re trying to do things for you, not to you,” Davenport said.
He laughed about the rousing phone call that he received before 7 a.m. Monday from a guy who has never been hesitant to wake him before sunrise — Rick Pitino, checking in with congratulations from New York City.
Davenport thanked Pitino for coaching him into losing 73 pounds and becoming an avid runner so he could improve his health and enjoy the lives of his two sons and grandchildren.
He remembered all the remarkable road trips where he took his Bellarmine squads — to Duke, UCLA, Gonzaga, Purdue, BYU, Utah, Notre Dame, West Virginia, Washington, Kansas State, Kentucky and, of course, Louisville, where he famously beat the Cardinals on Nov. 9, 2022.
He ran through a long list of others who lifted him at various points along the journey from Iroquois High School to U of L to Ahrens back to U of L to Virginia Commonwealth to Ballard back to U of L and then on to Bellarmine.
From Bill Olsen to Tubby Smith to Mike Pollio to Wade Houston to Bobby Dotson to all the administrators, assistant coaches and former players at Bellarmine.
In time, I’m certain Davenport will text his words of thanks to all of them. He likely already has.
Final paragraphs of tribute columns are for legacies. I asked Davenport what he would like his legacy to be.
“I was just never, ever discouraged, no matter what happened,” he said. “I got passed over for jobs.
“But what do you do? You work hard. Your work back. You get back. It’s tough. It’s tough. But I’m better because of it.
“And I’m just so appreciative of this community. It does mean a lot to me. I don’t care if it’s from where I went to school or where I coached kids from. And we need these young people We need to fight for them. And I couldn’t be more thankful.”
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