Courtesy of Ferris State Athletic Communications
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- Ferris State University and Bulldog Athletics was saddened by the passing of former athletics director and longtime supporter Dean Davenport, who passed away last Thursday (Sept. 3).
Inducted into the Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009, Davenport served as Ferris State's Athletics Director from 1979 to 1993 when the Bulldogs won the GLIAC President's Cup for all-around excellence 13 consecutive years. A coach and administrator at FSU for 23 years, Davenport's career was highlighted by the growth and success of athletics and the recreation/intramural program at Ferris. The Bulldogs won a total of 73 league championships during his tenure and he was instrumental in the planning of the FSU Sports Complex, the growth of women's intercollegiate athletics, the emergence of Ferris' NCAA Division I men's ice hockey program and the development of the athletics scholarship program.
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 moved to Ferris 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 was a leader in the NCAA, serving on the nominating and men's sports committees. In addition, he was on the honors committee, basketball rating and selection committee and the scholarship committee. He also served as president of the CCHA, MIFC and the GLIAC. While at Ferris, Davenport 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 at Ferris, Davenport helped the Bulldogs post a 167-76 overall mark from 1970-79. He also served as a consultant to the FSU men's basketball program for several years during retirement. Davenport's son, Terry, created the iconic Bulldog logo currently still utilized 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 passed away peacefully over Labor Day weekend in the family's beloved log-and-stone summer cottage on the western shore of Lake Charlevoix at the age of 91. Dean 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.
