Mississippi State University mourns loss of former Bulldog basketball player and head coach Kermit Davis Sr.   A native of Walnut, Mississippi, Davis was the first recruit signed at Mississippi State by legendary head coach Babe McCarthy. During his playing career, the team amassed a combined 61-14 record and earned three AP Top 15 finishes during his playing career.   Davis returned to State as an assistant coach for four seasons before being promoted to head coach in 1970-71. He finished his coaching career third in program history with 91 wins and was named the 1970-71 SEC Coach of the Year by the Associated Press. Davis coached four future NBA Draft picks, including first-round selections Rickey Brown and Wiley Peck. Beyond the court, Davis played a major role alongside Athletic Director Charles Shira in raising funds for the construction of Humphrey Coliseum. Davis was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.