CHICAGO, Ill. - Chicago State Track & Field will be honoring Sudie D. Davis Jr. at the Cougar Alumni Open on December 5. Davis, who is a longtime leader in athletics, community programming, and youth development with decades of service tied closely to Chicago State University and the Chicago sports community.
Davis spent more than two decades at Chicago State in a variety of roles, including Building & Facilities Supervisor, Associate Athletic Director, Interim Athletic Director, and later Athletic Director. During his tenure overseeing CSU Athletics, he managed a multimillion-dollar budget, supervised more than a dozen NCAA sports, directed intramural and recreation programs, hired and led coaching/administrative staff, and represented the university to conference and NCAA leadership groups. He also played a major role in budget development, strategic planning, compliance, and student-athlete retention, earning the university's first conference titles in multiple sports.
His leadership extended beyond campus facilities and operations—Davis helped design key athletic spaces, including the New Jones Convocation Center, supervised team travel and event scheduling, and created programming to foster sportsmanship, professionalism, and alumni engagement.
In addition to his work at Chicago State, Davis held major leadership roles across Chicago's athletic and youth-program landscape, including Director of Operations at the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center and Program Director for the National Youth Sports Program in Chicago, where he developed large-scale sports and enrichment programs serving hundreds of young people annually.
A decorated coach, Davis led numerous championship teams and produced nationally ranked athletes in track & field, including Olympic Trials qualifiers, record holders, and conference champions. His coaching career spans collegiate, professional, and youth levels with standout achievements across sprinting, jumping, field events, and relay programs.
He has also been an instructor, clinician, and presenter at sports development programs across the U.S. and internationally, including clinics in Costa Rica, Colombia, Colorado, Miami, and Chicago Public Schools.
Davis holds both bachelor's and master's degrees from Chicago State University, with earlier studies at Jackson State University. His honors include a national Meritorious Award from the National Youth Sports Program, All-American recognition in track and tennis, and multiple coaching awards and competitive achievements.
Davis spoke about his thoughts on what this honor of an award from Chicago State Track & Field means to him.
"This honor is big and it would go above and beyond of all the other awards I have been honored to get in my career. I was both happy and surprised to hear when the coaching staff called me telling me they want to honor what I did here at Chicago State University in my career. It means to the world to me and it will be the best award I have ever received."
Sudie Davis will be honored at the Cougar Alumni Open hosted by Chicago State University on December 5 from the Dr. conrad Worrill Track and Field Center at Gately Park.
