LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – May 22, 2026 – Lincoln University (PA) Director of Athletics Josh Dean announced the hiring of Paul Davis as the new head coach of the Lions women's basketball program.

"We are excited to welcome Coach Paul Davis to the Lincoln University (PA) women's basketball program," said Dean. "Over the past few years, I've had the opportunity to watch and observe Coach Davis, and he has consistently shown a strong leadership presence. He is a respected coach within the CIAA and will bring great energy, toughness, and leadership to our program. Watching his teams compete, you can immediately see their intensity, discipline, and ability to play at a high pace. I believe Coach Davis will help continue developing and elevating our women's basketball program while building a strong culture here at Lincoln University (PA)."
Davis arrives at Lincoln University (PA) with a strong background in collegiate coaching, professional playing experience, and a defensive-minded philosophy that has helped shape programs throughout his career. Most recently, Davis served as the head women's basketball coach at Bluefield State University, where he helped guide the program through its transition into CIAA competition while building a culture centered around toughness, pressure defense, and player development.

"It means the world to me," said Davis. "This is truly a dream come true and an opportunity to do something great with amazing people. From the moment I stepped on campus, it felt like family. You can feel the vision here and the direction that Dr. Allen and the administration are moving toward. When there's construction, there's opportunity, and I believe there's tremendous opportunity here at Lincoln."

Davis brings more than just coaching experience to the program. A former standout at Winston-Salem State University, Davis was named the CIAA Defensive Player of the Year during his playing career and remains the school's all-time leader in blocked shots. Following his collegiate career, Davis played professionally overseas before transitioning into coaching.

After his playing career, Davis began coaching at Winston-Salem State before making stops at Queens University of Charlotte and Livingstone College. He later earned his first head coaching opportunity at Bluefield State, where he quickly established a defensive identity and culture centered around accountability and effort.

"Coach Bobby Collins, Ken Spencer, and my high school coaches were pivotal in my life and career," Davis said. "Everything they taught me inspired me to become the kind of mentor and coach that young people need. As a sophomore in college, I knew I wanted to play professionally and then get into coaching so I could pour knowledge back into young people and help guide them through life one day at a time."
Known for his energetic style of play, Davis plans to bring an aggressive brand of basketball to Lincoln University (PA).

"We want to control the tempo and bring pressure every possession," Davis said. "We're going to play controlled chaos high-pressure, high-octane defense. We want to force turnovers, defend the den, and set the standard every single day."

Davis emphasized that one of his first priorities will be retaining and developing the current student-athletes while building strong relationships throughout the region.
"Recruiting starts with relationships," Davis said. "We want to keep talented players home and recruit leaders who care about the people around them. I want our players to use their voices, grow as people, and become active in the community. This is bigger than basketball."

Away from the court, Davis describes himself as a "jack of all trades," with interests that range from graphic design and painting to cutting hair, working on cars, fishing, and gardening.

"I'm a big-time country boy," Davis said with a smile. "I love building things, being creative, and finding ways to connect with people. Coaching is about relationships and helping people grow."
Davis believes Lincoln University (PA) is positioned for long-term success and is eager to begin building the next chapter of Lions women's basketball.

"We're not chasing attention we're chasing significance," Davis said. "That's going to be the mindset of this program every single day."