Fan favorite Molly Davis returns to Iowa on Evansville’s coaching staff

So, it wasn’t a surprise when Davis received a rousing standing ovation Sunday when she was introduced and shown on the video board during Iowa’s 119-43 rout of Evansville. But this time, she was on the opposing team’s bench as a graduate assistant for the Purple Aces. 

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It didn’t matter what colors she was wearing as the crowd was thrilled to see the gritty guard who transferred to Iowa from Central Michigan her junior year, playing a key role in the Caitlin Clark-led teams’ back-to-back trips to the Final Four and National Championship game.

“It’s been a super special moment,” Davis told The IX Basketball of her return and the reception she received. “The thing I’m most grateful for is just the relationships that I’ve built. It’s truly been special to just see the people that have meant the most to me and impacted me.”

Even the Evansville coaching staff knew the gravity of the moment as they wore black t-shirts with a picture of Davis in her No. 1 jersey and an Evansville logo above her moniker  “Heart. Hustle. Headband.” 

“We’re excited for Molly to come back home,” Evansville head coach Robyn Scherr told The IX Basketball. “It’s a special deal for her to come back here to a place where obviously she had a lot of success and means a lot to her. I just have a ton of respect for Iowa’s program.”

“But Molly also is just a rock star for us, and we’re so glad to have her on our staff at Evansville,” she added. “She works so hard, and she’s such a smart basketball person. Molly doesn’t like a lot of attention, so she’s an easy one to celebrate, just because she’s so humble.”

Iowa head coach Jan Jensen, who was Lisa Bluder’s associate coach when Davis played at Iowa, spoke of Davis’ impact on the program that played a pivotal role in elevating women’s basketball in the past few years.  

“I love that kid. I love Molly’s story for all the right reasons of a team sport,” Jensen told reporters after Sunday’s game. “I think we talked about Molly Davis when we got her, but I don’t think we really delved into the fact that she left a starting position to come and be a part of this. I think if you talk to everybody associated with that era, we probably don’t have a lot of things we have without Molly Davis.”

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Crushing ending to senior season

Iowa’s Senior Day at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in 2024 was the stuff of legend. ESPN’s College GameDay crew broadcast live two hours before the game. Lynette Woodard, whose women’s Division I scoring record Clark broke earlier that week, was introduced mid-court. Maya Moore was on hand to surprise Clark before she broke LSU’s “Pistol” Pete Maravich’s 54-year-old record of most points all-time in NCAA Division I basketball. And the No. 6 Hawkeyes defeated No. 2 Ohio State, avenging an overtime loss earlier in the season. 

But the mood was dampened in the first half when Davis went down with a right knee injury and was carried off the court as the crowd chanted her name. She was wheeled back on to the court in a wheelchair by her parents for the post-game Senior Day ceremony.

“That was a tough moment. I had never been injured before, so going down, I think I immediately knew something was wrong,” Davis told The IX Basketball. “But at the end of the day, no matter the knee result that I was going to get, I knew I was surrounded by such amazing people.”

Initially, Davis was expected to miss the Big Ten Tournament the next weekend but was to undergo physical therapy for possible postseason play. But eventually she was ruled out and sat out the remainder of the season – until the waning 20 seconds of the Hawkeyes’ 87-75 loss to South Carolina in the National Championship game when she hobbled out on the court one last time. 

“For Coach Bluder to even think of me in that moment, it really just meant a lot to me. My family was there supporting me, so for them to get to see me touch the floor one last time, it really meant a lot,” she said. “I just want to thank Coach Bluder for that entire moment. She didn’t have to do that, but for her to think of me, I mean, it just truly says a lot about her and the kind of person that she is. So, I’m forever grateful to have that moment.”

After the season ended, she had surgery for a dislocated and fractured right kneecap, ultimately ending her playing career. 

“I’m still on the road to recovery. I’ve still had some issues with it. I still haven’t been able to run or jump or anything like that since the injury. It’s been a tough, tough recovery process,” she said. “But I’m so grateful to even have been on the court at that moment. I wouldn’t have gone back and changed it and wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Transitioning into coaching

Davis talked to former Iowa assistant coach Raina Harmon about her future plans. Harmon contacted her connections at Evansville, and Davis’ road to coaching was in gear.

“I talked to her after the season and mentioned that I wanted to be a GA somewhere, maybe be a coach, and she found a really good opportunity for me, and helped me throughout that process,” Davis said. 

Harmon, who was a coach at Central Michigan when Davis was being recruited at H.H. Dow High School in Midland, Michigan, also helped Davis land at Iowa after entering the transfer portal.

“I think I owe my whole career to Coach Raina. I wouldn’t be here at Iowa if it wasn’t for her, and I wouldn’t be here at Evansville with an amazing opportunity without her,” Davis said. ”I’m so appreciative for her and everything that she’s done for me. She believed in me and believed that I would fit the role that they needed when I entered the transfer portal. And then again, helping me out.”

Harmon is in her first season as head coach of Florida Gulf Coast University, a move that came as no surprise to Davis. 

“I’m so excited for her, and I know she’s gonna kill it being the head coach,” Davis said. “I know what a special leader she is, and I’m so grateful to have spent the two years that I was here for her and the forever friendship that I have with her.”

With her playing career behind her, Davis sees her future behind the bench. 

“I want to get into coaching. That’s the role I desire,” she said, adding “I wouldn’t mind being a practice player. Sometimes I’m watching practice and wishing I could be out there a little bit.” 

Memories to last a lifetime

Life is more back to normal for Davis, whose senior year at Iowa was lifted to rock star status with fans lining up at hotels and large arenas selling out to catch a glimpse of Clark and the Hawkeyes. 

“For me as an introvert, I’ve had some really special moments here and things that I look back on. My whole process here has been super special,” Davis said. “Being at Evansville, that’s still a special place, there’s still amazing people. There’s not 15,000 people in the stands, but the relationships are super important. That’s what’s similar between here and Iowa. I’m surrounded by amazing people. Honestly, that’s all I care about, and that’s all I can ask for. So I’m super happy.”

“It seems like 10 years ago, but I couldn’t have asked for a better two years,” she added. “Being back here today, and just seeing all the Hawk fans and amazing support that they’ve had, I still saw people having my shirt on and everything like that.”

Iowa season ticket holder Traci Oleson, of Coralville, Iowa, brought a poster to the game Sunday for Davis to sign.

“I loved her heart, hustle and headband,” Oleson told The IX Basketball. “That girl, she left it all out on the court every single game. She’s amazing and plays with all heart.” 

And as far as the headband that Davis famously wore every game since high school with the help of her dad’s stitching skills? 

“It’s back at home. It’s safe and sound. I haven’t brought it out yet,” she said. “I haven’t played basketball since, so I haven’t had the need to use it since then, but it’s definitely, it’s resting right now.”