Update - May 11, 2022

On May 9, Marc Davidson's family announced that he has gone home to be with his Savior. From his days at Trinity until the day of his passing, Marc was the epitome of 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." We're incredibly proud of the impact and legacy Marc has left behind. Please continue to keep his family in your prayers. His obituary can be viewed on the Indy Star.
 

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BANNOCKBURN, Ill. --- Trinity International University (TIU) Athletics Department has announced the retirement of men's basketball jersey number 44 in honor of Marc Davidson ('95). Davidson is from Minooka, Illinois, where he graduated from Aurora Christian High School in 1991. He was a decorated member of the varsity basketball program and as a result was recruited to play at the University of Illinois. After graduation, he went on to play for the Fighting Illini for two seasons where he averaged about ten minutes per game.  

Wanting more from his basketball experience, he transferred to Trinity International with hopes of a more involved playing career, but also something more. He was attracted to Trinity's seminary as he was interested in ministry, but was unsure of where God was calling him. His older brother had graduated from Trinity, and he had a good relationship with Coach Bruehl, so he decided to make the transfer for the 1993–1994 academic year.

That season, Davidson would become Trinity's first NAIA First Team All-American in the school's history across all sports. He was also named Great Lakes Region Player of the Year, NIIC Player of the Year, NSCAA All-American and NCCAA First Team All-American. In the following season (1994–1995) he earned all of those same awards and accolades while cementing himself in the TIU men's basketball record books.

Coach Alan Bruehl commented during his first season at Trinity, "Marc brings everything to a team a coach would ever want: spiritually, mentally, and physically. This is only my fourth year as head coach, and I can honestly say I will probably not have another player work harder, lift more weights, or shoot more baskets than Marc Davidson does. He is what a coach dreams about in a self-motivated player. He is a rare breed: walks the walk and talks the talk and believes in it. I do not know if he is the best basketball player to ever play at Trinity, but he is the best Christian/student/athlete to ever play here."

Davidson is still ranked in the top ten of seven different single season stats categories*, as well as five different career stats categories*, despite having only played two seasons at TIU. In an article written in the 1993–1994 men's basketball media guide, Indiana Institute of Technology Head Coach Dan Klein stated, "Marc Davidson is the best NAIA player I have seen in my ten years as head coach."

Not only was Davidson exceptional on the court, he had a big-picture mindset of who he wanted to be off of the court, a spiritual leader who showed the love of Jesus Christ to others. "I want to be an example of what a Christian should be on and off the court," Davidson stated in an interview during his time at Trinity.

Since his graduation from Trinity in 1995, Davidson has done just that in a variety of capacities as he has played overseas, coached collegiately at TIU from 2006–2007, and also at the high school level at his alma mater, Aurora Christian. He's currently the head coach at Blackhawk Christian School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where this season his team made a push for the state championship—all while he is fighting terminal cancer.

Back in October of 2020, Davidson was diagnosed with renal epithelioid angiomyolipoma (EAML), a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Despite his diagnosis, Davidson has continued to coach with diligence and intentionality, bravery and determination, as he uses his story as a tool to share the love of God. Following each basketball game, he offers to share his story and testimony with the opposing team as well as pray for them and the remainder of their season.
For all that Marc accomplished on the court, and everything he has accomplished for the kingdom of God since his graduation, TIU Athletics is honored and proud to retire his jersey at an invitation-only special event, "In the Paint," to be held on Trinity's campus this Friday evening.



*Marc Davidson's statistics at Trinity International:
        Single Season Stat Categories
                Total Points: 6th, 723 points
                Assists: 5th, 139 assists
                Points Per Game:  2nd, 25.2ppg
                Rebounds: 1st and 2nd, 441 and 418
                Rebounds Per Game: 3rd, 13.9 rpg
                Field Goals Made:  1st and 4th,  305 and 291
                Free Throws Made: 5th, 156
        Career Stat Categories (through two seasons)
                Points: 9th - 1528
                Rebounds: 5th - 859
                Field Goals Made: 4th - 596
                Free Throws Made: 7th - 297
                Field Goal Percentage: 7th - 52%