Ferris State University leaders are remembering Dean Davenport for his impact on Bulldog Athletics as the former athletic director and coach, while elevating the Bulldogs to new heights.

Davenport passed away on Sept. 3 at the age of 91.

He served as Ferris State's athletics director from 1979 to 1993 and was later inducted into the Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.

During his tenure as AD, the Bulldogs won the GLIAC President's Cup for all-around excellence 13 consecutive years. He was also a coach and administrator for 23 years, as Davenport’s career was highlighted by the growth and success of athletics and the recreation/intramural program at Ferris State.

The Bulldogs won a total of 73 league championships under Davenport’s leadership, and he was influential for the growth of women's intercollegiate athletics, the emergence of Ferris State’s NCAA Division I men's ice hockey program and the development of the athletics scholarship program.

Additionally, he played a role in the planning of what is now known as the R.L. Ewigleben Sports Complex.

A Central Michigan University graduate, Davenport's career in education spanned 36 years. He served as head boys' basketball coach at Traverse City High School and was an assistant at both CMU and Cal-State Northridge before becoming athletics director and head coach at Iowa Wesleyan College.

He joined the Bulldog family in 1970 as an assistant to head coach Jim Wink and was an athletics coordinator along with developing the recreation and leisure curriculum.

He also served the university as director of the health, physical education and recreation program from 1977 to 1979 when he was appointed athletics director.

Davenport's son, Terry, created the iconic Bulldog logo currently still used today and the department's annual Bulldog of the Year Award for the school's top male and female student-athlete was renamed in his honor.

Davenport was a leader in the NCAA, serving on multiple committees and as the president of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference.

While at Ferris State, he hired a number of future Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame coaches including Dan Ley, Monica Folske, Gary Waters, Kathy DeBoer, Judd Folske, Jim Miller, Ron English, Lewis Garner, Keith Otterbein and Jill Hirschinger.

As an assistant basketball coach, Davenport helped the Bulldogs post a 167-76 overall mark from 1970-79. He also served as a consultant for the men's basketball program for several years during retirement.

Davenport was married for 65 years to his Charlevoix High School sweetheart, Joyce (Cunningham). Together they built a remarkable partnership that lasted until Joyce's death on January 1, 2023.

To share in celebrating Dean's life, memorial contributions can be made by check to the Charlevoix Junior Golf Association, 213 Nettleton Street, Charlevoix MI 49720. Arrangements are in the care of the Charlevoix Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.

_{Photo and release courtesy of Ferris State University.}