Notables

Nathan Davis is returning to his alma mater as Randolph-Macon’s head men’s basketball coach. He'll be the program's fourth coach since 1956.

Davis comes to Ashland from Colgate where he served as an assistant coach this past season, his 11th as an assistant at the D-I level. He arrived at Colgate after five seasons as an assistant coach at Bucknell, where he was responsible for all aspects of the program under head coach Pat Flannery, who won a Division III national championship with Lebanon Valley in 1994. Davis assisted with scouting and player development and served as recruiting coordinator.

"I am very grateful to president (Robert) Lindgren, dean (William) Johnston, and (athletic director Dennis) Kanach for giving this opportunity," said Davis. "Randolph-Macon College and its basketball program have meant to much to me over the years. I am looking forward to carrying on the great tradition that has been put in place by Coach (Paul) Webb, Coach (Hal) Nunnally, and Coach (Michael) Rhoades."

Davis replaces Rhoades, who was 197-76 in 10 seasons before taking an assistant job at Division I Virginia Commonwealth earlier this month.

During Davis' tenure, the Bison won 99 games and made two NCAA Tournament appearances. The Bison pulled off first round upsets over Kansas in 2005 and Arkansas in 2006. In 2006, Bucknell finished 24th in the nation in the coaches poll.

“We are delighted to have Nathan Davis returning to Randolph-Macon. I am greatly impressed with his coaching experience and perhaps more importantly, the values he attempts to impart to his players,” said Lindgren. “We have a wonderful tradition of coaching excellence -- and longevity -- in our Men’s basketball program at R-MC, and coach Davis is a very worthy successor of the Webb/Nunnally/Rhoades legacy here."

Davis previously spent five years as an assistant at Navy and was an assistant at Emory and Henry after graduating from Randolph-Macon with majors in history and sociology. He earned four varsity letters in basketball playing for Nunnally, serving as team co-captain in both his junior and senior years.

“We are very pleased to have been able to attract a coach of Nathan Davis' caliber. I have known Nathan for some time now and he has always been on the top of my short list to replace Mike Rhoades when that day came,” said Kanach. “He has worked in D-III and D-I and has learned his trade from some of the best teachers in the game. ... I am also very happy to announce that J.D. Byers has agreed to stay with the program as coach Davis' assistant.”

Davis will inherit a team that has 11 players returning, including three starters from a 2008-09 squad that went 20-6 overall and finished tied for first-place in the ODAC regular season standings.

Wash U point guard Sean Wallis will return for another season next fall for the Bears, coach Mark Edwards announced Monday.

Wallis, who missed all but three games in the 2007-08 season, was granted a medical hardship season by the NCAA and will use it. Wash U will be pursuing a third consecutive Division III men's basketball national championship.

"I am really excited about the opportunity to play another year of collegiate basketball. The chance to be a part of the special group of guys here at Washington University for another year was too good to pass up," said Wallis. "I know the rest of my teammates and I are looking forward to competing at the highest level we can next season and defending our title once again."

This past season, Wallis averaged 11.1 points and a UAA-best and third in all NCAA Divisions 8.1 assists per game and shot a team-best 83.5 percent from the foul line. He was a finalist for the coveted Bob Cousy Award and was a first-team all-University Athletic Association and second-team D3hoops.com All-America honoree.

Wallis was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Wheaton Sectional and the Final Four after averaging 14.5 points and 7.0 assists per game during the Bears’ run to the 2009 national championship.

Wallis is averaging 10.0 points and 6.5 assists per game in his career, while shooting 83.0 percent from the foul line. He has also set a few records along the way, achieving a single-season record 251 assists in 2008-09 and the all-time Washington University assist record of 566.

He's the second Wash U player within the past week to announce a return, following women's forward Jaimie McFarlin, who also received a hardship for 2007-08 and will use a fifth season next year.