It's Marc Davidson's turn at Aurora Christian
As one Davidson steps down, another begins a new era.
On Monday, Marc Davidson was named boys basketball coach at Aurora Christian. He took over for his father, legendary coach Don Davidson, who announced his resignation late last week.
Don, who is also the school's athletic director, was the only boys basketball coach the school has had in its 31-year existence.
"I'm really looking forward to it," Marc said. "I really feel the timing is good. My dad and I talked about it before, but the time is right now, and my dad was ready to step down."
"I'm so excited for him to take over the program," Don added. "I've been waiting for him. He's been through the program, and he will run the program the way I ran the program."
While at Aurora Christian, Don went 549-304 with 10 regional titles, 5 sectional titles and a pair of state appearances.
In Don's last season with the Eagles, he went 18-11 with a second consecutive regional title. The 2007-08 season was dedicated to Stephanie, Don's wife who passed away days before the season began.
"It's amazing," Marc said of Don's coaching career at Aurora Christian, noting that the Eagles didn't even have an athletic program in his first year there in 1977.
Don was glad he didn't have to look too far for the new coach, who has an impressive resume as a former player and coach.
Marc is the only four-year varsity starter and letterman in the history of Aurora Christian's program. Over his high school career, Aurora Christian went 104-16. Marc also set several school and state records, including career points (2,300), rebounds (1,942) and assists (458). In his senior year, he averaged 25.6 points per game, which is also the highest in school history.
Marc was a team captain for his final two seasons and the team MVP and an all-state selection three times. He led the Eagles to a fourth-place finish in the 1990 state tournament, where he was the leading scorer at 27 points per game. He also was Class A's player of the year in 1991.
"He played inside and outside, but the best part of his game was that he was a great passer, in addition to being very unselfish," Don said of Marc. "He honestly could play any position."
Then-Illinois coach Lou Henson took notice and offered Marc a full scholarship. Two seasons later, Marc transferred to Trinity International University and became the first NAIA First Team All-American in school history in 1993-1994. He did it again in the 1994-1995 season, when he led the Trojans to a first-ever conference championship as a senior and on to a first-ever national tournament appearance in 1995.
After getting married in July of 1995, Marc and his wife, Lisa, moved to France, where he began a pro basketball career. He played for three teams in a span of five years before coming back to the United States in 2000.
The Davidsons moved to Michigan for three years, as Marc pursued a career as an athletic director, boys basketball coach, junior high baseball coach, high school physical education teacher and junior high Bible teacher at Macomb Christian School.
Still itching to play, however, the Davidsons returned to France where Marc played for three more years.
In June of 2006, Marc accepted the men's basketball head coaching job at Trinity International, which is located in Deerfield.
In Marc's first season at TIU, the Trojans advanced to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in 12 seasons.
Marc currently lives in Gurnee but will be moving closer to the Aurora area with Lisa and their five boys. He is glad to be moving closer to Don, who will continue to serve as Aurora Christian's athletic director.
"It's going to be great," Marc said. "My dad has been my hero ever since I can remember. It's an honor to replace someone like that."