UNG softball coach inducted into Georgia Dugout Club Softball Hall of Fame

University of North Georgia (UNG) head softball coach Mike Davenport knows what it means to lead a team to victory, and inspire leadership in his players. His success earned him a spot as an inductee in the Georgia Dugout Club Softball Hall of Fame on Jan. 12.

"I am very honored to be inducted into the Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Fame," he said. "This association is made up of coaches from many different levels of softball, and to be inducted by a group of current and former coaches that understand the softball coaching profession means more than anything."

Since he began coaching softball at UNG in 2001, Davenport has led the team to 860 victories, highlighted by the 2015 National Championship. During his time as coach, he's coached several All-Americans and has led the team to win 12 conference regular season titles, 11 conference tournaments, five NCAA Southeast Region Championships, and one NCAA DII National Championship.

Ten UNG softball players were named 2018-19 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes. And being a part of events such as the annual Heroes Game for Special Needs Individuals and Make-A-Wish makes Davenport grateful to be at UNG. 

"We want to create a program that is consistently successful both on and off the field each and every year," he said. "There are no shortcuts to success, and a lot of former student-athletes and former coaches have come through this program and left it in a better position than when they came in."