Bellarmine University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Scott Davenport announced today several changes in his coaching staff. Assistant coaches Michael Scott and Damien Anderson have stepped down in order to spend more time with family, and Coach Davenport has named Felton Spencer and Doug Davenport as new members of his staff.
Spencer is well known in the Louisville area having grown up in the area and enjoying a successful playing career at the University of Louisville before embarking on a 13-year career in the National Basketball Association. The 7-footer was the sixth pick in the 1990 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he went on to earn a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
Doug Davenport, who is Coach Davenport’s son, also is known throughout the Louisville community and to Bellarmine fans in particular as he is a 2010 Bellarmine graduate and was a guard for the Knights basketball team. Following his playing days at Bellarmine, he served on the coaching staff at Xavier, where he earned a master’s in education in 2012. He went on to serve on Coach Rick Pitino’s staff at Louisville from 2012-2015 (2013 NCAA Champions, 2015 NCAA Elite Eight) before moving on to Eastern Kentucky University last season where he served under Coach Dan McHale.
“I am thrilled with our staff additions,” said Scott Davenport. “I sincerely appreciate the efforts on and off the court of Mike Scott, who had been a valuable part of our program for my entire tenure at Bellarmine as a student manager, graduate assistant, part time assistant and full time coach. Damien Anderson came to us with a wealth of international experience and knowledge and contributed greatly in all facets of our program. While they will be missed, I truly admire devotion to their family obligations. They are doing what is best for the new additions to their family. In Mike’s case, future recruits in twin boys, and in Damien’s case, a beautiful baby girl. Everyone associated with Bellarmine wishes them the best.”
Davenport added that his new staff additions bring a wide range of basketball experience to the Knights. “I have been very fortunate in my career to be a part of many excellent staffs throughout my career at various levels of coaching,” he said, “and I am tremendously excited to have Felton Spencer and Doug Davenport join our basketball staff. Their experience in all areas of basketball is truly amazing.”
The Bellarmine head coach, who is entering his 11th year leading the Knights, said, “Felton grew from being cut as a 6-10 eighth grader at Crosby Middle School to earning a degree from the University of Louisville and playing 13 years in the NBA with six franchises. He has done it all the right way. He is an outstanding leader, he was the consummate professional and he gives, gives and gives of himself. He is a star in our community and will be an outstanding coach/mentor!”
Coach Davenport said, “Doug has been very fortunate to work and learn under three of the ABSOLUTE best coaches/teachers at any level of coaching. He has a special passion for Bellarmine and everything Bellarmine stands for academically, athletically and socially. When he was a high school student, we had many discussions on his future, and–being an outstanding student–I constantly encouraged Doug to pursue law school or Wall Street. His answer was always the same: ‘I want to be a coach!” I am very excited he is coaching not at Bellarmine but for Bellarmine!”
The entire Bellarmine coaching staff now has deep roots to the local area as assistant coach Beau Braden (DeSales H.S.) also is a Louisville native. “With Felton, Beau and Doug all being Louisville natives, they know, love and have great pride not just in Bellarmine but the city of Louisville,” Davenport said. “They have an excellent opportunity to not just represent a tremendous university but contribute on and off the court in a very special city they call home!”
