Cumberland University

Scott Davidson begins his sixth season as the head coach and seventh season overall at Cumberland in 2025 after establishing Cumberland Women's Soccer as a perennial contender in his first five seasons.

Since taking over the program in 2020, Davidson has compiled an overall record of 65-22-7 and led the Phoenix to 51 straight appearances in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll, reaching as high as No. 8 nationally. Cumberland has consistently ranked among the best in the NAIA in both offensive and defensive categories throughout his tenure. He has produced 34 Mid-South Conference All-Conference selections, two NAIA All-Americans, and four Mid-South Conference Defensive Player of the Year awards.

His teams have also excelled off the field earning NAIA Scholar Team honors the last five seasons. His student-athletes have earned 99 Academic All-Conference honors and 69 NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

In his first season, Davidson led the Phoenix to their sixth NAIA National Tournament appearance while having seven players named All-Mid-South Conference, including the MSC Defensive Player of the Year and one NAIA All-American. The Phoenix were ranked as high as No. 20 with one of the best defensive units in the country allowing just 10 goals all season.

In 2021, the Phoenix ended the season with a 14-5-1 record and making their third-straight appearance to the NAIA National Tournament and seventh in program history. The Phoenix had one of best offense's in the nation scoring 71 goals in 20 matches for 13th most in the NAIA and finished with the fourth-most assists in the country with 76.

Marie Bathe was named an NAIA All-American Honorable Mention and First Team All-Conference selection. Freshman defender Grace Morris was named Mid-South Conference Defensive Player of the Year for her efforts in anchoring the Cumberland defense. Alongside her was First Team All-Mid-South Conference member Becca Campbell. 

In 2022, Cumberland made their fourth-straight appearance to the NAIA National Championships. The Phoenix finished the season 13-5-1 with seven shutouts and four wins over NAIA Top 25 teams. CU was ranked inside the Top 20 in the NAIA Polls all season finishing the year at No. 17. The Phoenix have scored 47 goals in 18 matches with 58 assists, good enough for 12th-best in the NAIA.

Six Phoenix garnered All-Mid-South Conference accolades with Morris earning Mid-South Conference Defender of the Year for the second-straight season.

Cumberland continued to grow in 2023 winning the Mid-South Conference Tournament Championship. The Phoenix finished 16-2-3 and were an NAIA Opening Round host. Cumberland made the Round of 16 in the NAIA National Championship having their first trip to the final site in several years. Cumberland scored 81 goals, the fifth-most in the NAIA with 80 assists, second-best in the country. The Phoenix put nine players on the All-Conference list including Morris winning her third-consecutive Defender of the Year honor. 

The Phoenix continued their winning ways in 2024 with a 12-6-2 record. Cumberland was an NAIA Opening Round host for the second-straight season. The team finished the season with 87 goals and 79 assists to rank 7th nationally in both categories. Their high-powered offense was fueled by 447 total shots, 10th most in the nation, and an average of 22.4 shots per game, also ranking 7th. Defensively, the team recorded 10 shutouts. Cumberland put five players on the All-Conference list as Morris, Seika Ikezoe, and Gabby Jones were First Team honorees. Ao Yamada and Kadisha Martina each were named Second Team. 

Davidson spent the last six years serving as head coach for Nashville Rhythm FC in the Women’s Premier Soccer League. Davidson was named the Southeast Regional Coach of the Year in 2020, 2021, and 2022. He is now working closely with Wilson County community at the Wilson United Soccer Club as the 07 girls coach and heads the recreation development center. 

He worked the 2015 season as an assistant men’s coach and goalkeeper coach at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Ga., assisting with team and individual workouts as well as recruiting. The Lions earned a berth in the NCCAA National Tournament that season, finishing the year 7-9-3 overall.

Davidson spent the 2014 campaign as assistant men’s coach at Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Ga., serving as camp director as well as leading recruiting for the Bears.

He worked two years as a graduate assistant for the women’s program at Trevecca University, helping the Trojans improve from 4-11-2 in 2010 to 8-8-2 the following season. Davidson also spent two years as an assistant for the men’s team at Bryan College, with the Lions registering marks of 12-4-2 and 11-8-0 in 2008 and 2009, respectively.

The Newarthill, Scotland, native played collegiately at Bryan College, scoring 23 goals with six assists as a senior to earn Honorable Mention All-America honors. The Lions compiled a 49-26-3 mark during his four seasons in Dayton.

Davidson played professionally with the Sioux Falls [SD] Spitfires (2007) and Spokane [WA] Spiders (2008) as well as two years with the Nashville Metros (2009-10). He also spent time with Albion Rovers FC Youth (1998-99), Hamilton Academicals FC (2000-02) and Lanark United (2003) in his native Scotland before enrolling at Bryan.

He received his bachelor’s in Communications from Bryan College in 2008 and earned a master’s in Teaching K-6 from Trevecca in 2013. He has earned USSF National “D” and “E” coaching licenses as well as Goalkeeping Levels I and II from United Soccer Coaches (formerly NSCAA). He has also received a Director of Coaching Diploma and Advanced National Diploma from the USC.

Davidson's Coaching Career