Mississippi Valley State will hire former Memphis basketball assistant coach Mike Davis as its new coach, a source told The Commercial Appeal on April 21.
The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made.
Davis — perhaps best known as the successor at Indiana to legendary coach Bobby Knight, leading the Hoosiers to the national championship game in 2002 — will take over for George Ivory III, who was dismissed on March 31 after four seasons with the Delta Devils. MVSU finished 3-30 in 2025-26 and Ivory won 12 games as coach.
Davis will be the 13th head coach in program history.
Davis spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Memphis under Penny Hardaway. In March, following a 13-19 season, Davis was part of a wave of coaching staff firings made by Hardaway, which included assistants Jermaine Johnson and Roy Rogers, strength and conditioning coach Todd Forcier, and director of scouting Josh Townsend. Johnson has since landed at Louisiana-Monroe as an assistant coach.
Memphis Tiger Julius Thedford (15) handles the ball against North Texas during a game on Dec. 31, 2025 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.Jan 10, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers guard Brandin Cummings (3) reacts after making a three point basket against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesWashington State Cougars forward Rihards Vavers (15) controls the ball against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center.Memphis Tigers’ William Whorton (12) looks to make a move in the paint against UAB during an American Conference game on Feb. 22, 2025 at the FedexForum in Memphis, Tenn.Briarcrest’s Fred Smith Jr. smiles after putting on a Memphis Tigers hat and shirt to announce his commitment to the University of Memphis in the gym at Briarcrest Christian School in Eads, Tenn., on April 9, 2026.Memphis basketball commit Cello Jackson looks on after Fred Smith Jr. announced his commitment to the University of Memphis in the gym at Briarcrest Christian School in Eads, Tenn., on April 9, 2026.Briarcrest’s Parker Pounds (2) shoots the ball during the DII-AA state quarterfinal against Baylor in Eads, Tenn., on February 28, 2026. Briarcrest defeated Baylor 55-53.1 / 7Memphis basketball roster 2026-27 for Penny Hardaway after transfer portal additionsMemphis Tiger Julius Thedford (15) handles the ball against North Texas during a game on Dec. 31, 2025 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.1 / 7Memphis basketball roster 2026-27 for Penny Hardaway after transfer portal additionsMemphis Tiger Julius Thedford (15) handles the ball against North Texas during a game on Dec. 31, 2025 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.2 / 7Memphis basketball roster 2026-27 for Penny Hardaway after transfer portal additionsJan 10, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers guard Brandin Cummings (3) reacts after making a three point basket against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images3 / 7Memphis basketball roster 2026-27 for Penny Hardaway after transfer portal additionsWashington State Cougars forward Rihards Vavers (15) controls the ball against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center.4 / 7Memphis basketball roster 2026-27 for Penny Hardaway after transfer portal additionsMemphis Tigers’ William Whorton (12) looks to make a move in the paint against UAB during an American Conference game on Feb. 22, 2025 at the FedexForum in Memphis, Tenn.5 / 7Memphis basketball roster 2026-27 for Penny Hardaway after transfer portal additionsBriarcrest’s Fred Smith Jr. smiles after putting on a Memphis Tigers hat and shirt to announce his commitment to the University of Memphis in the gym at Briarcrest Christian School in Eads, Tenn., on April 9, 2026.6 / 7Memphis basketball roster 2026-27 for Penny Hardaway after transfer portal additionsMemphis basketball commit Cello Jackson looks on after Fred Smith Jr. announced his commitment to the University of Memphis in the gym at Briarcrest Christian School in Eads, Tenn., on April 9, 2026.7 / 7Memphis basketball roster 2026-27 for Penny Hardaway after transfer portal additionsBriarcrest’s Parker Pounds (2) shoots the ball during the DII-AA state quarterfinal against Baylor in Eads, Tenn., on February 28, 2026. Briarcrest defeated Baylor 55-53.Hardaway is in the process of rebuilding his coaching staff. He recently hired associate head coach Tony Madlock, as well as assistants Sean Mock, Trevor DeLoach and Steve Wright.
Davis, who has also been a coach at Texas Southern and UAB, holds a 412-360 career record with nine NCAA Tournament appearances (four at Indiana, one at UAB and four at Texas Southern).
MVSU has not won more than nine games in a season since 2011-12, when the Delta Devils went 21-13 and reached the NCAA Tournament.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Mike Davis hired as MVSU men's basketball coach, per source