06/17/2026
OXFORD'S AD LARRY DAVIDSON RECEIVES AHSAA CLASS 6A "MAKING A DIFFERENCE" AWARD
To label Coach Larry Davidson as a boys’ basketball coach doesn’t do the Oxford High School athletic director justice.
Davidson, a graduate of Hixson High School in Chattanooga (TN), and Jacksonville State University with a Master's Degree in Physical Education, has served as head boys’ basketball coach, assistant football coach, head boys’ and girls’ tennis coach and Athletic Director at Oxford High School in a career that began in 1980 and has spanned across the last 46 years at Oxford High School.
Prior to Oxford, he taught and coached football and basketball at nearby Walter Wellborn High School for three years. The legendary coach still serves as the Athletic Director at Oxford High School – and just began his 50th year of service in Calhoun County as he helps prepare Oxford and its coaching staff for the upcoming 2026-27 school year.
Davidson was announced last week as the AHSAA’s 2026 Class 6A Making a Difference award recipient. He is one of seven individuals, one recipient in each of the AHSAA’s seven classifications, who are being recognized for their impact as exemplary role models in their schools and communities where they serve. The 2026 Class will be honored at the AHSAA Summer Conference Championship Coaches’ Awards Banquet at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center on Thursday, July 23 at 6 p.m.
The Making a Difference Award was established in 2011 by then Executive Director Steve Savarese with the AHSAA and its coaching wing, the AHSADCA, to recognize individuals who go beyond their normal duties as a coach, teacher, or administrator to make a positive impact in their schools and communities. This year’s seven individuals bring the total recognized in the AHSAA to 108 individuals from 94 different member schools since the first class of recipients in 2011. This award is considered one of the most important honors an educator can receive in the AHSAA, said Executive Director Heath Harmon.
“For more than four decades, Coach Larry Davidson – affectionately known as 'Coach D' – has been a cornerstone of excellence within the Oxford City Schools and the broader athletic community,” said his nominator, Dr. G. Todd Haynie. “His enduring commitment to students, coaches, and families has shaped generations, instilling not only a love for athletics but also a standard of character, discipline, and integrity. Coach D’s influence reaches far beyond the field.
“He has cultivated a culture defined by his guiding principle: The Oxford Way – Excellence is the Norm. That philosophy that continues to inspire us all who have had the privilege of learning from and working alongside him.”
Davidson has indeed been an inspiration and a mentor to so many, not only at Oxford High School, but across Calhoun County, District 6, and the entire AHSAA. Selected to the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2014, he confesses that being named a Making a Difference recipient is an incredible honor and a very humbling moment.
“This represents something much bigger than me,” he said. “It is about all the people who made an impact and made a difference on my life.”
Born and raised in Chattanooga, he said he was greatly influenced by his own high school coaches. “My high school coach at Hixson High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Coach William Faulk, was a major influence in getting me to coach. I have been blessed to be surrounded by great people, administrators, and Hall of Fame coaches throughout my career. Howard Waldrep, principal at Walter Wellborn High School, gave me my first job. That is where I got to witness how important athletics were to a community. I got to work alongside Mike Battles, John Adcock, and a host of other great coaches.
“At Oxford High School, I was fortunate to work with great coaches like Bill Burgess, Louis Higgins, and Bill Cassidy, who gave me my first opportunity to be a head coach. There, I was able to coach alongside another Hall of Fame coach, Robert Herring. Oxford is a place that would become home for us because of the people we would be surrounded by.”
During his 26 years as head basketball coach at Oxford, Davidson’s teams compiled a 415-256 record. He also coached defensive backs and receivers for the OHS football teams that won three state championships in 1988, 1989, and 1993. He coached tennis for 26 years, making several appearances in the state tournament, and beginning in 2006, Davidson moved into athletic administration as Athletic Director for Oxford High School.
Under his leadership, Oxford High School continues to be a leading competitor in all sports and is highly respected throughout the state. During his years as AD, Oxford has seen continued success winning state championships in baseball, wrestling, football, and basketball.
He has also become a leader in the AHSAA. Coach Davidson has been elected to serve on the AHSAA Legislative Council as 6th District President. He was inducted into the Alabama High School Athletic Association Sports Hall of Fame in 2013, and in December of 2016, the basketball court in the Oxford High School Sports Arena was named “Larry Davidson Court” in his honor. Davidson is also a member of the Calhoun County Sports Hall of Fame, elected in 2022.
“His ability to connect with student-athletes and their families fosters a sense of unity, purpose, and pride that is felt across the entire community,” Dr. Haynie added. “More than his accomplishments, it is Coach Davidson’s unwavering dedication and genuine care for others that truly sets him apart. He has inspired countless individuals – students and colleagues alike – to strive for excellence both in athletics and in life. His legacy is one of service, leadership, and lasting impact. His life’s work continues to elevate and enrich the lives of so many.”
Davidson said receiving this honor has given him much reason to pause and reflect.
“This represents something much bigger than me,” he said. “It is about all the people who made an impact and made a difference on my life. I know that this honor is nothing I accomplished on my own. This was made possible by the people the Good Lord surrounded me with. You reflect about the people and the relationships you have built over the years, from your family, to players, coaches, administrators, and the people you work with each day,” said Davidson. “As a coach, nothing is more rewarding than to have your players come back to see you and talk about their families and share what has been going on in their lives.
“Family was not just a word we used. It was what our program was built on. Our players, coaches, and cheerleaders were one big family. My wife Connie was the head coach of the family, and our daughters Keeli and Ali grew up in that extended family – and now share that model in their own families; Keeli and her husband Dwain Waller and son Dax; Ali and her husband Nathan Hargrove and their daughter Peyton and son Ryan.
“I truly realize all of these are the ones making a difference in my life.”
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