Josh Davis has been named as Upper Iowa University’s new head women’s soccer coach. Davis joins the Peacocks after a year and a half at Oklahoma Panhandle State University, a NAIA institution in Goodwell, Oklahoma. Davis led the Aggie women’s soccer program, which played in 2019 for the first time in university history, through the spring of 2021 before serving all of the 2021-22 year with the team.
While guiding the Panhandle State women's soccer team is Davis' first college head coaching position, he takes on the task with nearly 20 years of experience at his back (many at the NCAA Division I level). Most recently, Davis was the associate head coach at the University of North Dakota (2018). The University of North Dakota finished the 2018 season 9-6-2, its best record to date in the program's Division I history. Led by Summit League Player of the Year Katie Moller, UND amassed 41 goals while only allowing 10 to lead The Summit League in both categories.
The Hawks were amongst the top-40 teams in the country in scoring while ranking among the nation's top teams in goals-against average (15th) at 0.58 and save percentage (3rd) at 0.89. The 2018 group set single-game records for goals and assists at Alcorn State on Sept. 16 as it defeated the Lady Braves, 12-0, dishing ten assists. In a 7-1 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne on Oct. 21, the Fighting Hawks accounted for the most goals in a conference match in program history. Individually, Moller tied the program's single-game mark for goals (4) and points (8) against the Mastodons as well.
While Moller made headlines for her scoring and numerous awards - earning Senior CLASS Award Finalist and Second Team All-America honors - First Team All-Summit League selection Olivia Swenson was the glue that held the defense together as she posted seven shutouts. Swenson was also recognized for achievements in the classroom and on the pitch as she earned Google Cloud CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team honors at the season's end.
During his four seasons with the Vandals (2014-17), Davis helped the squad to back-to-back Big Sky Conference regular-season championships in 2015 and '16. Davis was a member of the 2015 Big Sky Coaching Staff of the Year after guiding the team to a program-best 14-4-3 overall mark and a 9-0-1 record in league action. He mentored 2015 Big Sky Goalkeeper of the Year Carson Poertner and Kavita Battan. They earned second-team All-Pacific Region honors, and Battan was the first player in program history to sign a professional contract. The 2015 squad set program marks for wins, points, goals, assists, shutouts, goals against, and attendance.
A year later, Davis recruited 2016 Big Sky Freshman of the Year Emma Eddy to Moscow. For the second straight campaign, the Vandals led the league in goals scored and the fewest goals allowed. Overall, he mentored 47 Big Sky All-Academic honorees and 21 All-Big Sky selections, including seven first-teamers.
Before UND and Idaho, he was the first assistant coach at IUPU-Fort Wayne (2013-14). Before that, he was the first assistant at NCAA II California State University, San Bernardino (2013) and NCAA III Whittier College (2011-12). He began his college coaching career as a volunteer assistant at NCAA I California State University, Fullerton (2008-10).
He served as the head varsity girls coach at Moscow (Idaho) High School for two seasons (2019 & 2020) that set program records in goals, assist, points, and wins. Under the tutelage of Davis, Moscow had its most successful seasons since the start of the program in 1999, winning the state districts and reaching the state tournament for the first time since 2011. Davis was named Inland Empire League Coaching Staff of the Year 2019 and 2020, coaching 10 All league players and 1 Inland Empire League MVP.
Davis holds National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) certifications of Level I, II, and III Goalkeeper diploma (2008), a National Diploma (2010), NSCA Advanced National Diploma (2011), and the NSCAA Premier Diploma (2011).
As for his college playing career, Davis began by playing two seasons at Victor Valley Junior College (2002-04). He then played a year at Hope International (Calif.) University (2004).
Davis earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from the California State University of Fullerton in 2009. He was awarded a Master of Arts in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University-Irvine in 2013.