Davis Ferrum athletics photo

Ferrum coach Dave Davis will retire at the end of the 2010 football season, The Franklin News-Post of Rocky Mount, Va., is reporting. Davis is entering his 17th year as head coach of the Panthers and was an assistant coach at Ferrum for 10 years before taking the top job.

"I think it is time emotionally, psychologically, physically and professionally to let the reins go," Davis told the newspaper.

Davis' Panthers return five starters on offense and six on defense from a team that went 5-5 last season, 3-4 in the USA South. The newspaper reports that Davis turns 62 in September.

"It was a shock. I didn't see it coming. It's kind of sad,' Ferrum senior defensive lineman Willie Taylor told the newspaper. "Coach Davis is a good coach. He's the one who got me (to come) here and he gave me a chance. I owe him a lot.

"He explained to us that this was the right time for him (to retire) and that it was the right choice,' Taylor said. "I think a lot of people were kind of upset about it, but it's part of (coaching)."

Where will Ferrum finish? Get expert predictions and more in Kickoff from D3football.com, which comes out next week.

Davis' teams have three times earned a share of the Dixie/USA South conference title, including a trip to the playoffs in 2005 and a first-round loss at Wesley.