Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

New Football Coach Press Conference 700.4925
Rachael Keating

A New Era Begins: Joe Davis Introduced as WIU Football Coach

| By: WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS


MACOMB – The Joe Davis Era of Leatherneck football officially kicked off on Wednesday as the new leader of Western Illinois' program held an introductory press conference inside the Hall of Fame Room at Western Hall.

Davis becomes the 32nd coach in the 120 year-history of the Leatherneck football program history.
 
"One of the reasons I was really attracted to this opportunity, there has been a tradition of excellence in the football program over the years," Davis said. "There have been excellent players, excellent teams, excellent coaches and that's something that attracted me to this opportunity and being the coach at Western Illinois."

When it comes to building the Leathernecks, Davis has a simple, but timeless message on how his staff, squad and program will operate.

"I told the players this morning, everything we're going to do here at Western within this football program under my leadership is going to be based on truth and love," Davis said.  "As a leader of young men, I want to be honest with them all the time even though they might not like the truth sometimes. We're going to talk about truth and transparency and in Division I football with the transfer portal, NIL, social media, these kids want to hear honesty from someone they're putting their trust in and that's something our staff is going to reciprocate.

"And the word love, that means a lot to me, I'm very fortunate to grow up in a very loving family, my family remains very close and I'm going to use some of those examples of what love is as a leader."

As far as the current and future of the program goes, Davis also had a simple message for how he wants to build his team.

"I want guys who want to be at Western, I want guys who want to be a Leatherneck, period, and there are attributes toward being a Leatherneck that we are going to search for, when it comes to recruiting high school students and when it comes toward recruiting the transfer portal, guys who have a chip on their shoulder, guys who want to get a degree from an outstanding regional institution and the last thing and the most important thing, I told the players this morning, this is real now, a chance to compete for an Ohio Valley championship," the coach said. "This is real now, we're entering a new league, there's no history in this league and we're going to make our history in this league."
 
Gallery: (12-13-2023) Joe Davis Press Conference
Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Now Playing:

Related Stories