- April 29, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Seabreeze coach Lester Davis talks to his players and their parents after the "Beast Come Out" at Night weightlifting event at Seabreeze High School on July 27, 2023. File photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze Coach Les Davis poses with his players after the win against Pine Ridge last season. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze Coach Les Davis pumps the crowd up at the homecoming pep rally and alumni night. Photo by Michele Meyers
It is “claws down” for Lester Davis.
Seabreeze’s head football coach resigned on April 3 after one season to become the defensive coordinator at Camden County High School in Kingsland, Georgia, under former Mainland head coach Travis Roland.
The Sandcrabs were 4-6 under Davis last season. Davis, who graduated from Seabreeze in 1999, served as co-defensive coordinator at Mainland under Roland in 2022.
When Roland left Mainland at the end of February to take the job in Georgia, Davis said he felt his Sandcrabs would probably benefit from players leaving the Bucs. Instead, Roland contacted Davis and asked if he would be interested in joining his staff at Camden County.
Davis said he decided to make the move because, while it may not be a promotion in title, it is a promotion in pay, benefits and resources.
“I’m getting an increase in pay and going to be on a national stage with Camden County High School,” Davis said. “All of those are positives for me. I’ll be closer to my kids who stay in South Carolina. I’ll be three hours away instead of five hours.”
Davis played linebacker at Seabreeze and at South Carolina State University. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in business administration, he remained in South Carolina where he taught and coached football at three high schools before moving back to Ormond Beach in 2021, when he joined Roland's staff.
Davis has two children who he will be able to see more often — 12-year-old son Leelan and younger daughter Zaleeah.
Davis said he is looking forward to coaching with Roland again.
“The whole atmosphere that we brought to Mainland, Travis wants to bring to Camden High School and a little bit more,” he said. “I’m excited because I can still be coach Davis — leadership council and all that good stuff. I can still do that and continue to learn and grow within the sport. It will be the Travis and Davis show again.”
Seabreeze athletic director Brad Montgomery told the Observer on April 11 that the Sandcrabs have received about 20 applications for the vacant coaching position and they will begin interviewing candidates next week.
