Plantation coach Steve Davis is the Miami Herald’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient

Steve Davis was fortunate as a high school football coach both at Blanche Ely and Plantation.

The Boyd Anderson High alum and Ole Miss graduate is cluttered with fond memories of his tenure as a head coach dating back to 1998.

At the conclusion of the 2023 season, Davis’ 24 years as a head football coach became his last. Spending time with family and his first grandson is now the priority over the gridiron.

For his accomplishments on and off the field during his career, Davis is this year’s recipient of the Miami Herald’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Retirement had crossed my mind,” said Davis, who spent 18 years at Plantation, including one year absence off the sidelines in 2016 before returning as the Colonels coach. “I was getting close at the end of the year. My priorities have changed. I’m done for sure. I’ll never say never, but I won’t be a head coach.”

Davis said he plans to remain at Plantation High as a Physical Education teacher, while working in Parks and Recreation in Lauderhill.

Davis, 54, completed his coaching career in Broward County with stints at Blanche Ely and Plantation finishing with a career record of 173-83, which included a state championship at Ely in 2002.

He was the Plantation coach from 2005-2015 and 2017-23 finishing with a record of 117-74, including 14 playoff appearances.

“Coach Davis meant a lot to us at Plantation,” said former Plantation linebacker Ryan Shazier and a 2011 Colonels graduate. “He was an extension of my father. We had a great relationship. I took everything he said seriously. He had a great coaching style. As a player we all worked hard for him as he got the most of our ability out of us. He always put us in position to succeed.”

Shazier played at Ohio State and the Pittsburgh Steelers, before suffering a severe spinal injury in 2017.

Shazier currently runs a foundation for spinal cord injuries and has a coaching internship with the Steelers at the start of the 2024 NFL season.

Including Shazier, eight former athletes that suited up for Davis played in the NFL.

They were Asante Samuel (BA), Clinton Session (Ely), Brandon McGee, Josh Robinson, Sojourn Shelton, Chris Lammons and Jeremy Cash all from Plantation.

“To see those guys when they graduate and have familiarity tickles me to death,” said Davis, who was the first inductee into the into the Red Coat Hall of Fame at Plantation High this past year.

In Davis’ fifth season as Ely’s head coach, he had a team led by senior running back Tyrone Moss and sophomore quarterback Carlton Jackson, which won the 2002 Class 5A state championship over Tampa Wharton 22-10 at Florida State University.

A quarterback at Boyd Anderson and Ole Miss during his playing days, Davis became the junior varsity coach at Ely in 1994, before becoming varsity offensive coordinator for three seasons.

Davis replaced Herb Taylor as the Tigers coach prior to the 1998 season. Though Davis went without a victory in his inaugural season, success followed with a 12-2 record in 1999 and a berth in the 5A semifinals.

In six seasons, Davis was 56-9 at Ely. He took a year off before becoming the coach at Plantation in 2005.

The 2002 championship came with a mix of great defense, a sophomore quarterback in Jackson and Moss, perhaps the greatest running back in Broward history.

Moss rushed for 2,313 yards and 35 touchdowns and caught 10 passes for 164 yards that season.

“I learned a whole lot about the game from coach,” said Jackson, who threw no interceptions during the 2002 regular season. “I was surrounded by a lot of talent, and it was my job to manage the game and not put us in a position to lose. Coach Davis helped me understand my role as a young player. Since the day I met him, he always had an open-door policy to reach out to him.”

Jackson graduated from Morgan State and is an assistant coach for the Coconut Creek High football team.

As for Davis’ playing career at Boyd Anderson, he tied a seven-year school record his senior year with four rushing touchdowns in a single game in 1986. He finished his senior season with eight rushing and seven passing touchdowns.

Said Davis during his time as the Plantation coach, “Those were a great group of kids to work with.”

“I have gained a ton of great friends over the years being around the game of football in Broward. I’m blessed to coach as long as I did.”

Davis leaves a legacy at Plantation as Darrell Strong takes over as coach.

“The kids will see the pro jerseys of those that made it to the next level in the school’s weight room,” said Davis. “I’ll help coach Strong where I can. I will also have the opportunity to see a lot more teams play of Friday.”