Courtesy Davidson College | DavidsonWildcats.com — The Davidson College community is mourning the loss of former scholar-athlete, coach and devoted Wildcat, Dave Fagg, who passed away Monday at the age of 88.
“Coach Fagg embodied everything good about Davidson Football, Davidson Athletics and Davidson College,” said Vice President / Director of Athletics Chris Clunie. “He lived a remarkable life of leadership, service, and integrity. He impacted so many people on and off the field, and poured his heart and soul into this institution. I am grateful that we were able to honor he and his family this past year, and although we will miss him dearly, his Wildcat presence will be felt forever.”
A 1958 graduate, Fagg was named Davidson’s top athlete as a senior, winning the Tommy Peters Award as he lettered in football and wrestling. He captained both the football and wrestling teams his senior year.
After serving as an assistant football coach under Homer Smith for five years, which included a trip to the Tangerine Bowl in 1969, Fagg was named Davidson’s 20th head football coach in 1970.
Following four years with the ‘Cats, Fagg continued his successful coaching career, spending time on the Hawaii, Georgia Tech, South Carolina and Arizona staffs, before returning to Davidson in 1990.
Fagg rescued a floundering Davidson program that had won just four games in the five previous seasons by restoring pride in Davidson football and won 16 games in three seasons.
When he retired from coaching, Fagg transitioned to helping the college’s fundraising efforts, and he also served as a longtime color analyst on the Wildcats’ football radio broadcasts.
He wore Davidson in his heart and soul and left a legacy with the establishment of the Ellington-Fagg Davidson Trust Scholarship and Ellington-Fagg Davidson Wrestling Scholarship.
In 2009, Fagg won the Hendrix Award, which goes to a Davidson football letterman who, by the use of lessons learned on the playing field, has gone on to achieve outstanding success in his chosen profession.
On April 20, 2024, Field 76 inside the new Davidson College Stadium, was officially dedicated in honor of Fagg, who wore number 76 as a member of the Wildcats’ football team.
In addition, at halftime of Davidson’s first-ever football game on Field 76, Fagg’s jersey was retired at halftime, the first in program history.
Before his Davidson career, Fagg retired from the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant Commander in 1962.
