Davis Celebrates 48 Years of CVHS Football

Warren Davis shows off the autographed helmet coaches and players presented to him after 48 years with Castro Valley High football.

Friends and former players will ensure that Warren Davis has a large contingent of supporters present when he is inducted into the Castro Valley Sports Hall of Fame in April.

“Warren is one sweet human being,” said Mike Fehely, a Davis classmate at Castro Valley High back in the 1970s. That seems to be the feeling of everyone who has known the Trojans’ longtime equipment manager and assistant football coach. 

Davis began his 48-year love affair with Castro Valley High sports as a student manager in 1975 and continued helping with the football team after graduation through the 2022 season. His tenure lasted through six varsity head coaches, beginning with John Brosnan, and ending with Denny Molzen.

“I liked working with the kids,” Davis explained simply. 

When Fehely began coaching the freshman team in 2005, he became acquainted with his former classmate.  “He totally remembered me,” Fehely said. “Warren was the go-to guy if you needed anything.  He’d get to practice early, make sure the equipment was ready, make sure we had water on the field. He hardly ever missed a day.”

The two have been friends ever since.

“If you were feeling down, Warren would brighten up your day.  That’s just the kind of guy he is,” Fehely said.

Molzen got to know Davis as a student-athlete in the 1990s, then again as the varsity football coach for the past eight seasons.  “For incoming freshmen, Warney was one of the first persons they met who was linked to the program,” Molzen explained.  “All the kids loved him.  He remembered everybody’s name… always positive, just someone you liked to be around.” 

Mitch Kim has known Davis since their baseball days at CVHS, Kim as a star infielder, and Davis as the student manager. 

“He was a hard-working guy, always willing to help the coaches with whatever they needed,” Kim recalled.  “If a player got hurt, Warren would walk him down to the health office so the coaches could stay on the field.” 

Fehely and Kim still call or visit Davis frequently, making sure he’s okay.  Warren lived with his mother until she passed away in 2021.  Since then, he has lived alone in his home, within walking distance of the high school. 

“He was so caring for his mom,” Kim said. “Frankly, I was a little worried about him when his mom passed away.  But he’s doing all right.”         

In 2010, Castro Valley’s then-head coach Nick McMaster presented Davis with a special award – the Hector Award. It’s a trophy with a Trojan (or it could be a Spartan), in full armor, with the inscription: “To Coach Warren Davis for Outstanding Dedication to the Castro Valley High School Football Program.”

Upon his retirement after the 2022 season, Davis was presented with a Trojan helmet, signed by players, coaches, and former coaches.  It’s a treasure he keeps prominently displayed in his Castro Valley home.

“I kid him,” Kim admitted.  “I’ll call him and say, ‘Hey, Warney, did you remember to take your helmet off?’ He’s just the nicest, fun guy to be around.” 

Although he is no longer actively involved with the CVHS program, Davis has not lost his passion for Trojan football. 

“I still go to the games and stuff,” he revealed.  “I get in for nothin’.”

After 48 years of service, Warren Davis should be getting into Castro Valley High football games for nothin’ as long as he likes. 

This is the 11th in a series of 16 articles profiling the 2024 inductees into the Castro Valley Sports Hall of Fame.  The Hall of Fame ceremonies and banquet will be held Sunday, April 21, at Redwood Canyon Golf Course.  For tickets, go to castrovalleysportsfoundation.org and click on “Events, Hall of Fame Banquet.”