Anthony Davis II returned to The Hill in February 2021 to work in a quality control role on the defensive side of the ball. Davis was previously a graduate assistant coach with the Hilltoppers from 2016-to-2018, helping with the wide receivers in 2016 and then nickelbacks in 2017 and 2018. He was most recently with VMI (Virginia Military Institute) since April 2019.
Davis coached the Keydets' running backs and also served as recruiting coordinator during his time in Lexington, Va. During the 2019 season, running back Alex Ramsey was named an Associated Press All-American after rushing for 1,326 yards and a school-record 22 touchdowns, which were the most ground scores in the FCS.
Ramsey became the first 1,000-yard rusher for the Keydets since 2008 and the first all-american in 17 years. His 1,326 rushing yards led the Southern Conference and ranked sixth nationally in the FCS. They were the fourth-most in program history, and coupled with 323 receiving yards made for 1,649 all-purpose yards – which were the sixth-most in program history.
Davis also instructed the kickoff and punt return specialists, led by running back Korey Birdy, who led the SoCon with a 27.7-yard kickoff return average. With a 5-7 overall record in 2019, VMI posted its most wins in a season since 2003. Meanwhile, the 4-4 SoCon mark was the team's best since 1979.
At WKU in 2017 and 2018, Davis coached WKU's nickelbacks, most notably Ta'Corian Darden. A former walk-on who earned a scholarship prior to the 2017 season, Darden tallied 142 total tackles – including 10.5 for loss – with three interceptions and 17 pass breakups in 25 games over those two years. In 2018, he was voted Conference USA Honorable Mention and named to Phil Steele Publications' All-CUSA Second Team.
In 2016, Davis assisted with the wide receivers, a group which tallied the first-ever pair of 1,000-yard receivers in program history en route to a second consecutive C-USA championship and third consecutive bowl game. Wide receivers Taywan Taylor and Nicholas Norris both enjoyed career seasons in both receptions and yardage in 2016.
Davis spent the spring of 2016 working with the Hilltopper strength and conditioning coaches, assisting with offseason and spring workouts. Davis lettered two years collegiately at Indiana in 2013 and 2014 before playing the 2015 season as a graduate transfer at WKU. A native of Indianapolis, Davis was a prep star at Warren Central and rushed for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns over a six-game span.
Davis holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs from Indiana and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and a Master of Business Administration from WKU.
