Chris Davis Sr., national basketball player of the year at UW-Whitewater, dies at 36

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater announced that Chris Davis Sr., 36, an NCAA Division III national player of the year in basketball and a national champion in both men's basketball and football, died Aug. 31.

No cause of death was given, though Davis' brother, Reggie Davis, told CBS58 that Chris died from a heart condition he didn't know about during his playing career. Funeral arrangements are pending.

The Madison East standout played at Whitewater from 2010-12, with the 2012 season ending in the program's third national championship. He averaged 22.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game on 54.9% shooting, landing the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference player of the year honor and consensus first-team All-American accolades.

D3hoops.com selected him as the national player of the year, making him the first Whitewater athlete so chosen.

He then gave football a shot at 25 years old and joined Whitewater's squad, which went on to win the 2013 national title; he spent two seasons as a tight end.

"Chris was the ultimate competitor and an extraordinary athlete," said Pat Miller, the Warhawks' head basketball coach from 2001-23, in a university release. "A national champion in two sports, Chris's priority was always doing what was needed to win. He was one of the most passionate and gifted players I ever coached. He overcame adversity and developed both personally and athletically into the national player of the year."

Davis spent eight seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater and briefly served as head coach at Sun Prairie West for the 2022-23 season; he was fired from that role in January 2023 after an in-game incident. His son, Chris Davis Jr., played under his father at Sun Prairie West and, this past season, led the state in scoring at 40.8 points per game.

Davis Sr. finished with 1,242 points at Whitewater and was named to D3hoops.com's All-Decade Team from 2010 to 2020.

"Warhawk Nation lost one of the best to ever put on a purple and white uniform," director of athletics Ryan Callahan said. "He was a special player and a great person. Chris stayed connected to the program and would always attend the alumni events with his son. His story is a special one and we are grateful that we were able to be part of it. "Chris continued to give back to the community and the game he loved after he left Whitewater. Our hearts to go out to everyone close to Chris, especially his son."

The Whitewater athletics community is already reeling from the shooting death of UWW gymnast Kara Welsh on Friday.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Chris Davis, DIII basketball player of year at Whitewater, dies at 36