Two revered coaches are being honored at Clarks Summit University’s Homecoming: Alumni and Family Weekend, October 6–7, 2023. The Defender soccer field will be named Davis & Jacobs Field after longtime soccer coaches Dr. Chris Davis (’74) and Roger Jacobs (’77). These two men have been pillars of Defender athletics for decades and have had an immense impact on many student-athletes, fellow coaches and community members.
Coach Chris Davis
Dr. Chris Davis started CSU’s women’s soccer program and was the Lady Defender soccer head coach for 23 seasons. Under his leadership, the women’s soccer team amassed six National Christian College Athletic Association Division II national championships, one North Eastern Athletics Conference title, and an appearance in the 2007 National Collegiate Athletics Association Division III tournament. Dr. Davis’ teams dominated in the early history of NCCAA Division II women’s soccer, winning the championship title for the first four consecutive years of his head coaching career. Joining the NEAC in 2005, the women’s soccer team went 8–1 in their first season with the legendary head coach in the new conference.
Dr. Davis was appointed a full-time member of CSU’s Physical Education faculty in 1976 and division chair in 2005. His career included coaching wrestling (1971–’06), cross country (1971–’93) and track and field (1971–’87), as well as serving as co-director of Defender Soccer Camp and helped lead Big Blue Soccer Camp. He was inducted into the Defender Athletic Hall of Honor in 2009. Dr. Davis earned a Ph.D. in Physical Education and Behavior Psychology from The Ohio State University in 1984. He retired from his career as a professor in 2014 and was named Professor Emeritus in 2015.
Since then, Dr. Davis has been the athletic director and coach of boys and girls high school soccer. He coaches track and field and teaches fourth through sixth-grade basketball at Blair County Christian School in Duncansville, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Davis and his wife Karen live in Altoona, Pennsylvania. His daughter Kari (’00), her husband Chaz Dull (’10) and their children live near them—his grandson Hudson is a senior at CSU. His son Russ (’97) and his wife Shannon (Billman, ’95) live with their children in Spokane, Washington.
“This is a very high honor in my mind, and I thank the Lord that He led the trustees and the president to make the nomination. Anything that God accomplished during my days at CSU was only because of Him and His grace in my life. I just thank the Lord for what I consider an underserved honor. I am thrilled to be with my dear friend Jacobs in this whole process,” said Dr. Davis.
Coach Roger Jacobs
Roger Jacobs is a prolific athlete and coach. He started as a student-athlete at CSU from 1973–77, competing in soccer and basketball during his four years on campus. He was made soccer captain and an assistant women’s basketball coach and made the all-conference teams during his junior and senior seasons. After graduation he taught and coached on the high school level for many years, returning to his alma mater in 1990. Upon his return, he coached men’s soccer and was an assistant men’s basketball coach at CSU. Jacobs led the men’s soccer team from 1990–2006, amassing a 208-161-14 record and four National Christian College Athletic Association Division II national championships. He was the co-director of Defender Soccer Camp and Director of Big Blue Sports Camp. He was inducted into the Defender Athletic Hall of Honor in 2010. His legacy was continued by his daughter, Amber (Jacobs) Osborn, who coached women’s basketball at CSU from 2010-15.
Jacobs and his family dedicated themselves to investing in the lives of their players on and off the field. Creating a safe, loving space for their players to grow into their God-given potential was a cornerstone of their ministry. Jacobs said, “I coached at CSU for 16 years, and the most important thing about that time was the players themselves. I watched them grow and mature while they were there, and I get to continue to see so many of them serve God to this day.”
He continued, saying, “A lot of my ministry with the guys wasn’t just me; it was also my wife and kids who were instrumental in living life with the guys. The guys loved and appreciated them just as much as they did me—to this day, they still talk about the kids and Mama J.”
Jacobs and his wife, Dawn (’77, ’11), reside in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Their daughter Amber and her husband David (’16) live in Marion, Indiana, with their children. Their son Derek (’05) and his wife Lindsay (Johnson, ‘08) live in Elkhart, Indiana, with their children.
The Ceremony
There will be a Coaches’ Brunch & Honor Ceremony on Saturday, October 7, at 9 a.m. in the cafeteria in the Phelps Student Center. At the brunch, Coach Chris Davis and Coach Roger Jacobs will be recognized for their faithfulness as we name the soccer field in their honor. The cost is $10 per adult and $5 for kids ages 2–12; kids under 2 are free. Reserve your tickets here through October 2.
The Davis & Jacobs Field naming ceremony will take place on the field at approximately 2:30 p.m. (after the women’s soccer game, which starts at 1 p.m.)
For more about Homecoming and the naming ceremony, visit ClarksSummitU.edu/homecoming.
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