Board of Ed Appoints Davidson As Boys Basketball Head Coach

Summit High School now has a new head coach for the boys varsity basketball team, and he’s no stranger to residents.

Jim Davidson, a guidance counselor and boys varsity lacrosse coach at Summit High School, was recommended for the position to the Board of Education by Superintendent Nathan Parker at a special Wednesday night meeting. The board approved the appointment, 6-0, and Davidson will step into his new coaching role on July 1, 2013.

“Mr. Davidson is a highly qualified, very experienced and successful coach,” Parker said. “Best known in Summit as our varsity lacrosse coach, many of you know him already and will appreciate the depth of coaching skills and experience he will now bring to our high school basketball program.”

In addition to being head coach of two varsity teams, Davidson will also reduce his counseling responsibilities in order to guide student athletes who wish to continue playing their respective sports in college, Parker said. A part-time guidance counselor will also be hired to help manage guidance department responsibilities.

“As our athletic program has expanded as I’ve described earlier, more students are showing a desire to pursue athletics at the college level. Consequently, the need for greater guidance focused on matching an athlete with the right college for athletic and academic pursuits has become specialized and time consuming,” Parker said. “As many of you know, Mr. Davidson is a high school guidance counselor as well as our boys varsity lacrosse coach. He has a lot of experience in the transition of high school athletes to college. Mr. Davidson will reduce his regular counseling load in order to assume additional counseling responsibilities to assist students who are being recruited as well as those who wish to play a sport in college.” 

Parker also recommended the addition of two assistant varsity coaches to strengthen both the girls and boys basketball programs. He said each basketball program will now have a varsity, assistant varsity, JV, freshman and middle school coach. 

Parker acknowledged that the basketball appointment process has been “arduous and complicated,” and that many parents and community members have devoted time and energy to recent discussions, which have been intense at times, but largely well intended.

“I believe that thanks to concerted efforts of many, we have now ended up in a very good place,” he said.

Parker said he feels that with the recommendation of Davidson as the boys new coach, he is confident the district will have a very strong team of coaches to lead both the girls and boys basketball programs.

“I asked that the community give Mr. Davidson their full support. I would also ask that the community provide him with the respect and space to develop the team and his coaching strategies for the boys in this very early stage of his new role,” Parker said. “Mr. Davidson will need time to put together a comprehensive program for the upcoming season and preseason. I ask that the public please hold their inquiries to him while he assesses the team and begins to work with the players this summer.”

The board’s decision was well overdue after David White’s contract was not renewed this spring after he served as head coach for one season. He took over the position after the contract of longtime head coach Eugene Maxwell was not renewed last year following a 7-16 season. White led the Hilltoppers to an 18-6 record this past winter, the team's best since 2004-05.

School officials have not disclosed why White’s contract was not renewed at the end of the basketball season because it is a personnel matter. The non-renewal of White’s contract has drawn criticism from both parents and students.  A Facebook page called Rehire Coach White was started in April.

Editor's Note: This is a developing story. Please check back often for more comments from Board of Education members as well as feedback from residents and Coach White.