Rogers State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Chris Ratcliff announced Heather Davis as the fifth head coach of Hillcat Women’s Basketball. A native Oklahoman, Davis is no stranger to the MIAA as she brings over a decade of experience in the league as both a player and coach.
“We are thrilled to have Heather joining the Hillcat family as the new leader of our women’s basketball program,” said Ratcliff. “With her deep roots and history of success in the MIAA and the state of Oklahoma, I am excited about the direction of this program with her at the helm. I feel confident that the best days of Hillcat Women’s Basketball are in front of us!”
Having spent her entire coaching career in the Sooner State, Davis arrives on College Hill most recently from Southwestern Oklahoma State where she served as the top assistant coach for one year. In her only season with the Bulldogs, she helped coached Averi Zinn and Morgan Smith to All-Great American Conference honors and helped guide SWOSU to a 10th place finish in the GAC under new head coach Jeff Zinn.
“I would like to thank Dr. Ratcliff, the search committee and all of the coaches and staff I met with during the interview process,” Davis said. “I am extremely excited for this opportunity to get back to the MIAA and get to work. I look forward to being a part of the Claremore and Rogers State community. Today is a great day to be a Hillcat!”
Prior to her stint in Weatherford, Davis spent eight years as an assistant at Central Oklahoma under UCO Hall of Fame Coach Guy Hardaker. Davis helped the Bronchos to more than 100 wins in her first five seasons at UCO and was 151-83 overall in her time in Edmond.
The Bronchos improved in each of the first three seasons with Davis on staff, going 17-13 in 2014-15, 19-11 in 2015-16 then 25-8 in 2016-17. Central won 22 games during the 2017-18 season with Davis taking the role of head coach in two games, and then went 19-12 during the 2018-19 season before posting an 18-10 mark in 2019-20. In the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season, UCO posted a 14-9 record. In her last season with the Bronchos, Davis helped guide Central to a 17-13 mark.
The 2016-17 win total tied for the second-most in school history and UCO made it to the MIAA Tournament finals for the first time since joining the league while also making its first appearance in the NCAA Division II national tournament since 2010-11, when Davis played for UCO.
Davis spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach for UCO before taking over a full-time role in the summer of 2014.
She started her college career at Division I Kansas City and played two years there, averaging 4.9 points a game as a freshman and 2.2 points as a sophomore while earning Academic All-Summit League recognition.
Davis came to UCO in 2010-11 and averaged 4.5 points and 2.7 rebounds a contest while starting in six of 32 games to help lead the Bronchos to a 22-10 record and Sweet 16 berth in the national tournament. She started throughout the 2011-12 season, averaging 10.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists a game as a senior while making 42 3-pointers. Davis is one of four players in school history to post a 100 percent mark from behind the 3-point line in a single game, with at least five attempts. She went 5-for-5 from behind the arc January 29, 2011 against East Central.
Davis was a prep standout at Muskogee High School, earning All-District and All-State honors as a senior while also garnering All-Conference accolades in soccer.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in May 2012 and her master’s in criminal justice management and administration in May 2014.
