Lars Davis Named Gator Baseball's Volunteer Assistant Coach
Thursday, September 4, 2014 | Baseball
University of Florida head baseball coach Kevin O'Sullivan announced the appointment of Lars Davis as the program's volunteer assistant baseball coach on Thursday. Davis replaces Buddy Munroe, who was recently named the Gators' Director of Baseball Operations.
“We are extremely pleased and excited that Lars will be joining the Florida Gator baseball program," O'Sullivan said. "His experience at the college and professional levels will be a valuable asset for us as we prepare for the 2015 season.”
Davis arrives in Gainesville after completing the 2014 season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. A third-round selection of the Colorado Rockies in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft, the Grande Prairie, Alberta, native has enjoyed an eight-year professional career with three organizations: the Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks and the Phillies.
“I am very appreciative of the opportunity to join the University of Florida baseball program," Davis said. "I am looking forward to helping Coach O'Sullivan and his staff any way that I can to continue the tradition of coaching championship student-athletes, on and off the field."
A two-year starting catcher at the University of Illinois in 2006-07, Davis was the second-highest drafted position player in school history and was an All-American during his junior campaign, when he was named the 2007 Big Ten Player of the Year. With a .400 batting average, he became the first Fighting Illini player to hit .400 in a season since 1996 and he put together a 19-game hitting streak. Davis paced the Big Ten that year in total bases (145), hits (90) and homers (13) and also led his squad in runs (55), slugging percentage (.644) and on-base percentage (.461).
His wife, Katie, is a member of the University Athletic Association as well, serving as the head athletic trainer for the defending national champion Gator softball team.
THE LARS DAVIS FILE
Birthdate: Nov. 7, 1985
Hometown: Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada
Education: Diploma in General Studies – Lethbridge College, 2005
Pursuing Bachelor of Science – Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Coaching Career:
· Volunteer Assistant Coach, University of Florida, 2014-present
Playing Career:
· Canadian Prairie Baseball Academy, 2005
· University of Illinois, 2006-07
Professional Career:
Colorado Rockies' Organization
Tri-City (Wash.) Dust Devils – (Class A Short-Season – Northwest League), 2007
Asheville (N.C.) Tourists – (Class A – South Atlantic League), 2008
Modesto (Calif.) Nuts (Class A Advanced – California League), 2009
Tulsa (Okla.) Drillers (Double A – Texas League), 2010-12
Salt River Rafters (Arizona Fall League), 2012
Big League Spring Training (Colorado Rockies), 2012-13
Colorado Springs (Colo.) Sky Sox (Triple A – Pacific Coast League), 2013
Arizona Diamondbacks' Organization
Mobile (Ala.) BayBears – (Double A – Southern League), 2014
Philadelphia Phillies' Organization
Reading (Pa.) Fightin Phils – (Double A – Eastern League), 2014
Lehigh Valley (Pa.) IronPigs – (Triple A – International League), 2014
Playing Honors:
· Post-Season All-Star with the Double-A Tulsa (Okla.) Drillers, 2012
· Mid-Season All-Star with the Double-A Tulsa (Okla.) Drillers, 2012
· Player of the Week with the Class-A Short-Season Tri-City (Wash.) Dust Devils, 2007
· Chosen by the Colorado Rockies in the 3rd round of the Major League Baseball Draft (No. 102 overall), 2007
· Second-highest drafted position player in University of Illinois baseball history, 2007
· Second-team All-American by Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball, 2007
· Third-team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association, 2007
· Big Ten Player of the Year, 2007
· First-team All-Big Ten, 2007
· Illinois Team Most Valuable Player, 2007
· First Illinois player to hit .400 in a season in 11 years, 2007
· Led the Big Ten in total bases (145), hits (90) and homers (13), 2007
· Led the Fighting Illini in batting average (.400), hits (90), RBI (56), runs (55), homers (13), slugging percentage (.644) and on-base percentage (.461), 2007
· Big Ten Player of the Week, 2007 (March 27)
· Dawg of the Year at Prairie Baseball Academy, 2005
· Ranks second all-time in single-season homers (7) at Prairie Baseball Academy, 2005
· Listed as the ninth-best Canadian prospect for the Major League Baseball Draft, 2005
· Top Male Athlete in the Grande Prairie Composite graduating class, 2003
· Chosen by the Tampa Bay Rays in 49th round of the Major League Baseball Draft (No. 1,429 overall), 2003
