LOUISVILLE, Ky. – National champion University of North Georgia was named 2023 ATEC/NFCA NAIA National Coaching Staff of the Year, the Association announced on Tuesday afternoon.
The NightHawks (64-7) put together a 10-1 postseason record on their way to the program’s second NCAA Division II crown. Under the guidance of head coach Mike Davenport and assistant coach Alea White, UNG rolled through Southeast Regional and Super Regional action with four shutouts and a 33-3 scoring differential. As the No. 3 overall seed in Chattanooga, the NightHawks opened with wins over No. 6 East Stroudsburg and No. 2 Central Oklahoma, and after a defeat in semifinal game No. 1 to top-seeded UT Tyler, they blanked the Patriots to advance to the Championship Series where they swept No. 5 Grand Valley State in the Championship Series.
UNG, which shared the Peach Belt regular season and won the tournament title, finished with a program-record 64 victories, the top win total across all three NCAA divisions. Davenport, who concluded his 23rd year, reached the 1,000-win milestone on March 6 following a doubleheader sweep of Barry and now owns a 1,042-267 (.796) career record.
Representing each of the NCAA Division II’s eight regions, North Georgia (Southeast), along with East Stroudsburg University (Atlantic), University of Central Oklahoma (Central), Wilmington University (East), University of Indianapolis (Midwest), University of Tampa (South), University of Texas at Tyler (South Central) and California State University San Marcos (West) earned ATEC/NFCA NCAA Division II Regional Coaching Staff of the Year awards.
Davenport and White will be recognized at the NFCA Awards Brunch on Dec. 9 at the 2023 NFCA Convention in Louisville.
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ATEC/NFCA NCAA Division II National Coaching Staff of Year
