Volleyball Head Coach Chris Willis on Why Give, Why Now

Can you share an example of one or two ways philanthropic support has made your program stronger recently?

Since my time as a student, I've always been involved with Davidson athletics as much as I could. When we first joined the Athletic Board, Mitzi and I decided we wanted to sponsor a scholarship for the volleyball team. We've thoroughly enjoyed our involvement over the years. We've loved following the team, watching them grow and keeping in contact with the girls who received our scholarships. Scholarships are a huge part of recruiting and retaining talented students, and we're fortunate to have left a legacy of bringing incredible student athletes to Davidson.
~ Parents David '58 and Mitzi Beckham (Suzanne '88 and Tamara '90)

Extra funding allowed our program to experience post-season competition for the first time in 22 years by participating in the National Invitation Volleyball Championship (NIVC) in 2022. We were able to win three rounds and advance to the final four teams of the tournament. This would not have been possible without the generous support of alums, families and friends.

Consistent support allows our coaching staff to recruit across the country. As college volleyball becomes more competitive, we're looking in more regions to attract the best individuals who fit our needs and culture. This is reflected in the geographic diversity of our roster. We can only evaluate, recruit and attract these outstanding women with resources that come from our constituents.

What are some key ways you see your program advancing in the next 1, 2, 5 years?
Winning attracts competitive individuals. Now that we've built a more successful foundation, I believe we'll continue to yield more outstanding scholar-athletes who will help move us forward to a more consistent level of competitiveness. We want to be in the top tier of the A-10 Conference on a yearly basis, and this is where I see our trajectory.

What do you see in our scholar-athletes every day that makes an investment in them worthwhile?
Our scholar-athletes represent everything that is good about college athletics. They choose to attend Davidson because they want a world-class education, and they want to compete at the highest level of NCAA Volleyball.

What are you most excited about when you think about the future of your program?
We have solidified ourselves in the top half of the A-10, and I couldn't be more excited about building on the momentum of our recent success.

"Athletics Done Right:" What does that mean to you?

Davidson provides a college athletic experience that is transformational by nature. By leveraging our rigorous liberal arts education, competitive athletics and post-graduate success, Davidson is keeping the focus on life-long success for each of its scholar-athletes.

You can make a gift, supporting any of our 21 Division I programs, at this link.

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