Canton coach is one for the books

Robert Davis is anything but your typical prep football coach

Michael Swisher | November 1, 2008

Is there anything Robert Davis can’t do? Better yet, is there anything he hasn’t already done?

Robert Davis

You be the judge.

On Friday night, a young Canton Tiger program (ranked second) went to battle against No. 1 Garber in what was a big-time showdown between Class B’s top two teams. The Tigers lost, 34-8, but it doesn't diminish how far the new program has come in just a few short years.

The same could be said for their coach, Robert Davis.

In his fourth year at the school, Davis has been loving his job to the fullest…just like he’s done with his life.

Just how full has that life been? The award-winning movie “The Godfather” is older than Davis, but you wouldn’t know it by his list of accomplishments and journeys in life. For one, as we mentioned, he’s turned the Canton program around in a short time.

While at Canton, he’s proven to be an entertaining, enlightening and inspiring history teacher, even earning district teacher of the year honors. Prior to that, he lived a year on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts with his wife. There he was a teacher, archeologist and a safari guide. Before that he won national and world – yes, world – competitions in powerlifting.

All that and he’s still considered a “kid” by many of his coaching peers. He’s done so much in such a short period of time, we wouldn’t be surprised if he’d written a children’s book along the way.

Wait for it…

Here it comes…

We’re going to say it…

Yes, Robert Davis – a high school football coach – has written a children’s book.

“Hoobachoo” was recently put into circulation by Tate Publishing and Enterprises. What is Hoobachoo? Here’s the brief summary of the book as printed on the back cover:

“Kitt Bradford is a rambunctious Hoobachoo monkey who wants nothing more than to be an explorer like his grandpa. Alley is Kitt’s best friend. She has a love for bright colors and would do anything to help her friend achieve his dream. But when disaster strikes the Old Tree and threatens all of those who live there, these two Hoobachoos would have to depend on each other and use of their knowledge of history, math and science to save their fellow Hoobachoo and the Hoobachoo way of life. Will hope and faith prevail or will Kitt and Alley be remembered as one of the biggest disappointments in Hoobachoo history?”

Davis’ inspiration for the book came while he was in St. Kitts. “My wife and I were out cruising the island and we saw two monkeys run across the road,” he said. “One of them was carrying something under his arm that looked like a coconut. My imagination did the rest.”

For a few years, Davis would tell his made-up stories of the real-life encounter to his classes. “They would tell me that I need to write it down and try to make it a book. I thought they were crazy,” he said.

But never afraid of anything new, Davis took the advice of his students and started writing in the summer of 2006. “I didn’t get very far since football season started, so I put it away. Once the season was over, I picked up my writing again.”

Davis finished in the summer of 2007 and sent it to two publishing houses and an agent last November. “I didn’t think anyone would publish it,” he said. “But they all liked it and offered contracts, so I picked the publisher I liked the most.”

So these days, Davis not only has to worry about schemes to slow down teams such as Garber, but also book selling and book signings for "Hoobachoo".

Although he may have a new career, there’s no mistaking what’s most important to Davis. “I don’t write during the season, because my work would be awful,” he said. “When it’s football season, I’m obsessed with my work. I can’t stop thinking about our opponent and what we need to do.”

After practice and maybe during his lunch hour, Davis may try to schedule a book signing, but it’s limited. He gives 100 percent to his students and his players, especially since he asks the same from them. “Teaching and coaching come first. That is where my players and students see me the most. If I take a day off or if I’m just lazy, then how do I expect them not to be lazy with their school work or take a day off practice?

“A coach has to practice what he preaches,” Davis continued. “Our success comes from the dedication of the boys.”

Sounds like a good story coach. Grab your pen and call the publishers.