By Dave Johnson
W&M Athletics
Monday afternoon, William & Mary athletics director Brian Mann gathered the women's basketball team to announce their new head coach. When he mentioned the name Erin Dickerson Davis, a gasp came from the direction of forward Bre Bellamy.
Uh oh? On the contrary. Turns out, Bellamy played AAU ball for Davis' husband, Thomas, in New York. They had met before, and Bellamy knew her reputation as a coach on the rise in NCAA women's basketball.
"There was immediately a weight off my shoulders," said Bellamy, who has started 57 games over the last three seasons. "I'm super exited, and everyone else is, too. It's a new style of play, but I think we'll adapt to it very well.
"The past few weeks were pretty crazy. We're seeing other teams getting their coaches, and we're wondering who's it going to be? Once I heard it was her, I was super excited."
So was Thomas Davis. It wasn't easy keeping the secret.
"I had to stay quiet about it," he said. "Keep everything tight-lipped."
Erin Dickerson Davis was introduced as the Tribe's head coach Thursday afternoon at the President's Suite in Zable Stadium. Thomas was there along with Lyla, their 6-year-old daughter. Also making the trip were Bryan and Kim Dickerson, her parents, Aric, her brother, and his fiancé, Jade Martin.
"A family that I understand is going to help us secure a home-court advantage in Kaplan Arena," Mann said.
Also in attendance were several returning players, who had met with Davis Wednesday night.
"We're really excited," guard Riley Casey said. "She brings a lot of energy and her resume speaks for itself. She's been everywhere. She's been at great academic schools.
"We're excited about what she brings to the table. I think everyone on the team couldn't be happier about the things she said. We're all really excited to get started."
Sydney Wagner, Casey's backcourt mate, agreed.
"She fits what we need in this program to a T," Wagner said. "Her style of play really fits with the players we have now.
"One of the most important things she said this whole time was about family. What this team needs is family. If we have that atmosphere, the sky is the limit."
Bellamy also likes the fact that Davis played collegiately at Northwestern, which has a similar academic setting as W&M.
"I think that's huge," she said. "The load here is heavy athletically and academically. It's important that our coach understands that. She experienced it herself, and I think she'll be able to help us succeed on the court and off the court."
