FRAN’S DEDICATION TO RACQUETBALL
“In the 30+ years of involvement the sport of racquetball, Fran has not only been a top ranked professional player, but also worked in almost every aspect of the business including club operations and merchandising and promotion. Fran has conducted World Class clinics/camps across the U.S., Canada, Central and South America. Fran has spent thousands of hours studying video tapes of students during learning sessions, helping each student on how to figure out what does and doesn’t work to vastly improve the mental and physical aspects of their overall performance on the court.”
For Fran, the important part of this experience is being able to share her knowledge with as many people as possible. Everyone who meets Fran is immersed into her incredible energy, team spirit and enthusiasm for the game. The learning environment Fran provides, challenges her students to experience and perform the correct fundamentals of their stroke mechanics and invoke a winning thought processes and strategies throughout the game.
FRAN’S PHILOSOPHY
“I have a very basic and simple philosophy of the game; I build games from the ground up, similar to the construction of a building. It is a logical step by step process of teaching. I start with the stroke (foundation), then build up to strategy/court position (frame), then add the serves/service returns (roof) and then add the finishing touches like mental/physical toughness (doors, windows, accessories).” This is how champions are developed.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Present Coach to Professional Players Rocky Carson, #1 IRT (International Racquetball Tour) Pro Player, Paola Longoria, #1 LPRT (Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour) Pro Player
- Present Coach to Junior National & World Champions Jordan Cooperrider, Girls 18 Champion, Wayne Antone, Boys 18 Champion, Mitchell Turner, Boys 14 & Under Champion…and all Junior US National Team & World Championship Team Members (see Professional Coaching Record below)
- 2011 & 2015 Pan American Coach to Rocky Carson and Paola Longoria, Pan American Gold Medalist’s
- 2011-2015 World Champion Coach to Rocky Carson and Paola Longoria, Gold Medalist’s
- 2011 Co-Author of new book, “Championship Racquetball” with Jason Mannino, published by Human Kinetics
- 2011 – Present Commentator on the IRT Network (streams the IRT)
- 2011 – Present Writer for the IRT Newsletter at www.IRT-TOUR.com
- 1987 – Present Writer for USAR (United States Amateur Racquetball) National Racquetball Magazine with articles such as, “The Making of a Champion” and also the prior racquetball magazine, “Killshot”
- 2011 – 2012 Part-Time Faculty for Shoreline Community College, Shoreline, WA
- 2010 – Present USAR-IP (United States Amateur Racquetball – Instructor’s Program) Certified Master Professional Instructor Program (Developed and designed the new teacher/coaching program for USAR-IP and prior to that previous organizations PARI and AmPRO)
- 1989 – Present Conducted over 5,000 Camps/Clinics Nationally and Worldwide, literally thousands of players of all levels of ability
- 2009 USAR Woman of the Year
- 2004 Hall of Fame Inductee
- 2003 Developed, designed and produced Instructional Video, “Building Your Racquetball Dream House” featuring Fran Davis, Jason Mannino and Sudsy Monchik
- Coached Legends Jason Mannino (2000-2010, achieved #1 IRT ranking 2003) and Sudsy Monchik (achieved #1 IRT ranking 5 times)
- Coached 6 Juniors to National and World Championships’ 2005 – 2014 (see Professional Coaching Record below)
- 1983 – Present Sponsored by HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports
- 1999-Present HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports National Promotions Coordinator
- U.S. National Racquetball Team Coach 1989-96, 2002 winning World Championships’ 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996 & 2002
- 2000-2001 California AIDS Ride raised over $10,000 within Racquetball Events
- 1997 USOC Racquetball Coach of the Year
- 1997 /1998 International Woman’s Sports Hall of Fame Finalist
- 1995 Pan American Coach – Gold Medal U.S. National Racquetball Team
- 1990 – 2000 USRA Elite Training Camp Instructor at the U.S. Olympic Training Center
- 1990 Feature Instructor in the AARA/RMA Video, “Learn Your Lesson’s Part 1”
- 1989-1992 American Diabetes Volunteer raised over $100,000 in Racquetball-a-Thons and received both a Fundraising and Service Award
- 1989 – 1994 United States Olympic Festival Coach
- 1978, 1989-1992 National Champion
- 1988 Author of AARA Elite Training Guide
- IRHSA and Club Industry Speaker for 10 years
- 1981-1983 President of the Women’s Professional Racquetball Association (WPRA) now called LPRT
- 1980 – 1988 Women’s Professional Racquetball Player
- 1979 One of the Authors of “How to Improve Your Racquetball” (winning techniques from the stars)
See Fran’s full Playing and Coaching Resume here.
For the past 30 years, Fran Davis has been intimately involved in racquetball. Her passion for the sport is surpassed only by her energy and knowledge of the game. As a competitor, Fran has been a National Champion, U.S. National Coach and U.S. Olympic Coach. Fran’s 1990, 1992, 1994,1996, and 2002 teams all won World Championships. Fran is regarded as one of the greatest instructors available anywhere in the game of racquetball today.
“When I was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004 I had a chance to reflect on one of the BEST evenings of my life in the sport. As an athlete or coach of any sport the lifelong dream is to be recognized as one of the most elite contributors in your sport by being inducted into the Hall of Fame. This is the HIGHEST honor you can EVER achieve. The sport is recognizing you for your contributions over the years.
Bud Muelhisen summed up the meaning of this honor very clearly,
“All these people being recognized tonight are all good competitors, but the real reason they are in the Hall of Fame is because they gave back to the sport.”
When I received the letter from the Hall of Fame committee that I was chosen I felt so many emotions ranging from excitement, happiness, elation, to jumping for joy. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that anything could match the evening that I was inducted, but I was wrong.
The Grand Gala Hall of Fame 35th Anniversary Celebration was also a night to remember and was one of the greatest evenings of my life. To know I am one of only 35 Racquetball Hall of Famers in the world is an incredible feeling and honor.
Sharing that night with the other Hall of Famers, the racquetball community, and my personal family was unbelievable. I had such proud and joyous memories created that night which have gone into my personal bank of Greatest Achievements that can NEVER be taken away from me.
I continue to give back to this sport because of the joy of life it gives me, allowing me to write the book “Championship Racquetball”, produce the video (DVD) “Building Your Racquetball Dream House”, and affect so many students through my racquetball camps. The friends I have made have become such an important part of my extended family that continue to create such great memories, I would not trade it for anything.
“Thanks to ALL my students, colleagues, sponsors and my immediate/extended family for supporting me, believing in me and just loving me for whom I am.”
