Davis continues learning process with Lady Braves

By Dan Kelly
Assistant Sports Editor

A glance at the desk of Kapica Davis, the assistant women's basketball coach at UNCP, will show that her loyalties do not belong to any of The Big Four in North Carolina basketball.

She displays her Indiana Hoosiers flag proudly and also her admiration for their legendary coach Bob Knight.

In order to pursue her own passion for coaching, she left one sanctuary of basketball for another.

At the end of her playing career and graduation from DePaw University in Greencastle, Ind., Davis went directly to UNCP and became a graduate assistant for two seasons.

After John Haskins became the head coach, she was encouraged to apply for the assistant coaching position and felt fortunate to be hired, Davis said.

Her current two-year tenure has seen the Braves go 18-10 last season and 14-11, so far, this season.

She not only looks to Haskins for input, but other coaches and department staff to help her advance her own coaching ability, Davis said.

Her influence in becoming a coach can be attributed to three people: her father, who was a high school coach; the aforementioned Bob Knight; and current Braves head coach John Haskins, who has "an amazing basketball mind."

Learning to play basketball in Indiana and coaching it in North Carolina has certainly given Davis a different perspective on a sport with such a rich heritage in both states.

She generally thinks that the women's game in Indiana is a fundamental, half-court approach.  North Carolina, on the other hand, has a much faster pace that relies on athleticism and pressure.
           
All of this experience apparently will be necessary as Davis plans to take the helm of a basketball program in the future.