Tyler Junior College promoted Brady Davis to head football coach, elevating his position from offensive coordinator after a five-year tenure with the program.
Davis will replace previous head coach Tanner Jacobson and will step into the role after one of the most successful seasons in TJC football history, going 11-1, winning the Southwest Junior College Football Conference, and advancing to the national semi-finals.
Davis believes not much needs to change, as the football team has stacked good seasons during his time at TJC
“I mean, we’ve kind of built a successful formula that’s kind of been proven over the last couple of years as we have started to kind of win some championships and stack really good seasons,” Davis said.
Davis joined the Apaches in the summer of 2021 under head coach Thomas Rocco. Davis said Rocco served as a mentor early in his career, as well as growing as a coach with Jacobson. Before becoming the head coach, Davis served as the quarterbacks coach, offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator, roles he said helped prepare him to oversee the program.
“I think just especially as an OC, being able to step into that role in my second year, just kind of find my voice, learn how to lead an entire unit,” Davis said.
Davis said the opportunity to lead the Apaches was exciting after leaving Tyler for a couple of weeks.
“I was excited to get back to Tyler. I’d actually left for a couple of weeks for a different job and got this opportunity, and I was just excited to get back and get with the players and coaches that I, you know, know and love,” Davis said.
Players have already noticed some changes under new leadership. Sophomore Linebacker David Langi said Davis already felt like a head coach, even before the promotion.
“Pretty familiar, honestly, if Coach Jacobson is not there leading us, it’s definitely Coach Davis, for sure. And so him stepping up as head coach is definitely not nothing new,” Langi said.
Langi said the standards and expectations have risen since Davis took over.
“There’s more urgency in workouts, and more urgency and getting things done in the classroom,” Langi said.
Being one of Tyler’s only college football teams, one of Davis’ priorities is increasing the team’s participation on campus and in the community.
“So being able to go give back to the community, right? I think it’ll impact, obviously, the community and the people that, that we go serve, but I think it’ll impact our players as well,” Davis said
Beyond wins and losses, Davis said success would be seen in preparing players for the next level, improving team academics, and developing the players on and off the field. There have been significant changes and turnover within the team this offseason, but the team is prepared.
“We’re all in new roles, right? Myself included. So being able to, you know, adjust and thrive in that new role is going to be important,” Davis said.
He added he wants the team to be connected and a part of the community, alumni, and students as the team enters a new chapter.
“Come see us any time you ever can. I want people to be around our program and around our current players,” Davis said.
