Coach's Corner - Mouse Davis

This is the third episode in our four-part series on the influences behind our offense, the Triple Shoot Offense. This time, we’re diving into the impact of a legendary Run and Shoot coach—Darryl "Mouse" Davis.

Back when I was coaching at Hofstra, Mouse was the head coach of the New York/New Jersey Knights in the World League of American Football, based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. At the time, Hofstra didn’t have spring football, but thanks to my head coach’s connection with Mouse, I had the incredible opportunity to observe their practices, sit in on meetings, and soak in everything I could about his offensive philosophy.

Mouse was incredibly generous, opening his playbook and sharing his knowledge without hesitation. He gave me countless game films and study materials—after all, he had been the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions during the Barry Sanders era. Learning from him took my understanding of the Run and Shoot to a whole new level.

One thing about Mouse—he didn’t let you just sit back and watch. I remember being on the sidelines, thinking I was just there to learn, when he suddenly grabbed me and said, "Go coach this guy!" He threw me right into the action, which was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking, but it kept me sharp.

As I got to know Mouse over the years, I learned how he first discovered the Run and Shoot when he was a high school coach in Oregon. He had picked up a copy of Tiger Ellison’s book, Run and Shoot Football: The Offense of the Future—the same book I’ve shared with you before. From there, he began evolving the offense, shifting it toward a more pass-heavy system, moving beyond Ellison’s original balanced approach.

Mouse took that innovation to Portland State, where his quarterback, Neil Lomax, set numerous NCAA records running the offense. From there, he brought the system to the NFL and beyond, influencing a generation of coaches. One of his greatest protégés was June Jones, another brilliant Run and Shoot coach who considered Mouse his mentor.

Looking back, I feel incredibly lucky to have learned from some of the best offensive minds in football. And now, as we begin installing pieces of the Triple Shoot Offense, I think you, as fans of the Ohio Valley Ironmen, will really enjoy watching it come to life on the field.

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Coach’s Corner—see you next time!