Davis Eidahl, was born in Iowa City, Iowa, and graduated from Newton High School in 1959. During his high school career he participated in basketball and track. He earned All-Conference honors in basketball. He qualified for the State Track meet two years and played in the State Basketball Tournament.
After graduation Davis attended Central College and participated in basketball, track and cross country. He was four year letter winner in basketball, track and cross country. He also serve as the captain in all three sports. He set the freshman scoring record in basketball and his team played in the Division III playoff three years.
Davis graduated from Central in 1963 with a Bachelors Degree. He later earned a Masters Degree from Liberty University in Lynnchburg, VA. Davis started his career at Anita High School in Anita, Iowa in 1963. He has spent the last 37 years at Pekin High School in Packwood, Iowa. Davis’s accomplishments as a track and cross country coach are magnificent. He is also a very successful competitor even today.
He coaches both the boys and girls cross country teams and here are some of his accomplishments. He has won five State Championships (3 for the boys, and 2 for the girls). His teams have won a combined total of 32 conference and 5 district championships. Davis has had two boys win Individual State Championships. His track teams have won 26 Conference Championships, 7 District Championships and 2 State Championships. Davis has coached three Drake Relays Champions as well. Some of his individual accomplishments as a competitor include, 316 Individual Race Walk wins, 39 State Race Walk Championships, National Junior 50K Walk Champion and an Olympic Trials qualifier in 1972. Davis has been honored by several groups for his career achievements. These include being named Regional Coach of the Year seven times for Cross Country and five times for Track, State Coach of the Year in Cross Country twice by the IATC, Regional National Coach of the Year in Cross Country in 1989 and 1995, by the National High School Coaches Association, and Iowa Outstanding Race Walker 9 times.
Davis has been active with AAU track and field. He has taken athletes to several Region 7 meets. He has won 29 State and TAC championships, as well as 12 State Pentathlon and Decathlon Championships. Davis has given of his time in other areas as well. He has been a member of the state advisory Track Committee and currently serves on the Cross Country Advisory Committee. He has hosted several district meets in both track and cross country. Davis has been a lecturer at numerous clinics throughout the region. He is the founder of the IATC State Cross Country Team Rankings. Mr. Davis Eidahl inductee to the Iowa Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame 2001.