Paul E. Davis

Paul E. Davis (February 3, 1922 – March 31, 2009) was an American college football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Mississippi State University from 1962 to 1966, compiling a record of 20–28–2.

Playing career Davis grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, and attended Young High School there, where he was selected as caption of the school's football team in both 1940 and 1941. During World War II, he served in the United States Army in Europe. He played college football at the University of Mississippi after completing his military service.

Coaching career Davis was head coach at New Albany High School in New Albany, Mississippi, before taking the reins of the Jones County Junior College football team, leading the Bobcats to a 9–0–1 mark and a state championship in 1951. He compiled a 34–11–3 record while coaching the team at Jones County Junior College from 1950 to 1954. He left to take a position as coach at Memphis State University, among other schools, before heading to Mississippi State University under head coach Wade Walker. United Press International named Davis the SEC Coach of the Year for the 1963 season. Charles Shira, who had been defensive coach for the University of Texas, was named to fill both vacant positions.

He was defensive coordinator and assistant head coach, among other positions, for the Auburn Tigers football team under Ralph Jordan (1967 to 1975), Doug Barfield (1976 to 1980) and Pat Dye (1987 to 1990), spending a total of 17 years with the team.