Head Coach:
Al Davenport

Cross Country Office:
937-484-1364 phone
937-484-1389 fax

Blue Knight athletes are dedicated to performing at their very best, both on the field and in the classroom. Scholarships are awarded to athletes who exhibit outstanding academic achievement, as well as athletic excellence.

If you are interested in learning more about the Blue Knights Cross Country program please complete our questionnaire.  If you would like to speak with a member of the coaching staff, please call 937-652-6814, or send an e-mail to: adavenport@urbana.edu

Davenport to Lead Blue Knights’ Newest Sport
Urbana University adds men’s and women’s cross country
URBANA, Ohio (August 14, 2007) – Urbana University Director of Athletics Doug Young appointed Al Davenport as head coach of Urbana’s newest intercollegiate sports, men’s and women’s cross country.

Davenport was also promoted to men’s basketball assistant coach. He spent the last two years as a graduate assistant coach for the Blue Knight basketball program.

“Al is a dedicated coaching professional and we are pleased to have him join the head coaching ranks at Urbana,” said Young. “He is a valuable asset for the men’s basketball program and I believe he will become just as successful as our new head men’s and women’s cross country coach.”

Davenport, who is an Urbana University graduate, is excited about becoming the head coach of an intercollegiate varsity program.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to become a head coach, especially at the college level,” he said. “I am pleased to contribute to the success of Blue Knight athletics and its goals to make the transition to NCAA D-II.”

Urbana is adding men’s and women’s cross country as part of its initiative to join NCAA Division II. Both cross country squads will begin competing in fall of 2008. The Blue Knights are also adding men’s and women’s swimming.

Davenport is recruiting athletes who make academics their No. 1 priority, but who are also prolific cross country runners.

“I am very competitive so I want to win every meet we compete in,” said Davenport. “I want to bring the best runners out there to Urbana. My first recruiting class will be the cornerstone of this program that I want to see become one of the best and compete for and win national championships.”

He was a four-year standout on the Blue Knight men’s basketball team. Davenport was a two-year captain and two-time American Mideast Conference selection for Urbana. He was named most valuable player his junior and senior years and he received Urbana University’s coach’s award his freshman year. He finished his career with 699 points, 472 assists, 232 rebounds, 130 steals and a .375 career field goal percentage.

Davenport ran cross country at Brookhaven High School in Columbus. He also coaches for the AAU All-Ohio program.

He is the son of Stephanie Hall of Columbus. He has two brothers, Robert Ray and Carl Davenport, and a daughter, Maija Watts.