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Rampage add AFL's top defensive coordinator to staff

August 31, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


Over the last two AFL seasons, Stan Davis turned the Las Vegas Gladiators into the AFL's premier defense in terms of total yards, passing yards and defensive takeaways. During that same time, the Grand Rapids Rampage have given up the most total yards and passing yards while having the least amount of takeaways. Opposites truly do attract and today the Rampage announced that Davis will be the team's defensive coordinator for the 2006 season.

"I've always said I would go after the best free agents possible," said Rampage head coach Sparky McEwen. "That means assistant coaches too, and Stan Davis is the No. 1 defensive coordinator in the league based on what he has done the past two seasons."

Last season with Las Vegas, Davis' defense finished first in the AFL in total defense (248.3 ypg) and passing defense (229.3 ypg), while finishing second in least passing TDs allowed (69) and yards allowed per passing attempt (6.8). The Gladiators also concluded their 2005 campaign third in opponent 3rd down conversions (44.2%); fourth in turnovers forced (31) and defensive passer rating (102.9); fifth in interceptions (18); and sixth in points allowed (48.8 ppg), fumbles recovered (13) and sacks (17). His defense was also one of only two teams with at least two players with six interceptions each (New York). Davis' 2005 statistics in nearly every defensive category would have finished better than any previous Rampage season in team history, including 2001 when Grand Rapids won ArenaBowl XV. Last season, Davis' defense had seven games were they kept their opponents under 40 points and ten total games were under 50 points (7-3 record). In comparison, the Rampage did not keep an opponent under 40 points and had just four total games holding opponents under 50 points (1-3 record).

"I'm excited about coming to Grand Rapids and excited about returning to the Central Division," Davis said, who coached three seasons in Chicago and recently completed a training camp internship with the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals. "I plan to bring an aggressive style of play to the Grand Rapids defense."

In his first season as Defensive Coordinator, Davis made an immediate impression as Las Vegas finished first in the AFL in passing defense (217.0 ypg) and second in total defense (243.1 ypg), which were massive improvements for the Gladiators from the previous season without him (34.2 ypg & 17.3 ypg improvements respectively). Las Vegas also led the AFL with 34 turnovers forced and was second in interceptions (20). The 2004 Gladiators are the only team in AFL history to have three different players with at least five interceptions each.

After coaching five years in colleges surround the Los Angeles area, Davis began his Arena coaching career in 2001 with the expansion Chicago Rush as their Defensive Backs/Receivers Coach & Director of Player Personnel for three seasons. That season he helped in the tutelage of 2001 AFL Ironman of the Year & First Team All-Arena WR/DB Dameon Porter. During those three seasons in the Windy City, Davis helped the Rush average 20 interceptions per season, which was the best in the in AFL during that time. As the Rush's Director of Player Personnel, Davis assisted in the recruiting and signing of key Rush players like Antonio Chatman, Dameon Porter and Cornelius Bonner among others.

Davis was the Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach at Los Angeles Harbor City College (1995-1996) and with the semi-pro Simi Valley Swarm (1997), where he coached former Rampage WR/DB Sean Riley. He then coached the defensive backs at Los Angeles Valley City College (1998) before becoming the Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs coach at Compton (CA) Community College in the 2000 season. He helped lead Compton to its first non-losing season since 1981. His coaching career began at his alma mater, Inglewood (CA) High School, working with the defensive secondary during the 1994-95 seasons.

Prior to his coaching career, Davis spent three seasons in training camps before deciding to become a coach. In 1991 and 1992, he was with the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos and in 1993 went to camp with the Arizona Aces of the Professional Spring Football League.

Davis was a four-year letterman at Long Beach State as a defensive back and still ranks ninth in school history in kickoff return average. There he was coached by: Marvin Lewis (now the Cincinnati Bengals' head coach), Mike Sheppard (now the New Orleans Saints' offensive coordinator) and Mike Samford (now the head coach at UNLV). Davis' relationship with NFL Personnel staff like Bobby Depaul (Bears), Morroco Brown (Bears), Dwayne Joseph (Miami), Bruce Plummer (Falcons), former assistant Director of Player Personnel Marc Lillibridge (Packers), Jay Hayes ( Bengals), and Ricky Hunley (Bengals) has helped to keep Arena players in the NFL spotlight, including: Antonio Chatman (Packers), Rashied Davis (Bears), Derek Lee (Bears), Donovan Morgan (Texans), Marlion Jackson (Falcons) all of whom were recommended by Davis.

Stan Davis was born on March 6, 1967 in Joplin, Missouri and received a Criminal Justice degree from Long Beach State. He graduated high school from Inglewood (CA) and posted the fourth-fastest 100-meter time by a high school athlete in 1985 (10.44 seconds). Davis has appeared in numerous commercials, television programs and motion pictures including: Fast Times at Ridgemont High (playing Jefferson's brother, 1982), Leon the Pig Farmer (Gutterman, 1992) and CHiPs (one episode, 1981). He and his wife, Magdalen, reside in Los Angeles and have two children (Jordan and Sonny).



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from August 31, 2005


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