IOWA CITY, Ia. The new guy in Iowas football complex has a national championship ring, three former quarterbacks starting in the NFL, and is a friend of former Texas coaching legend Darrell Royal.

Hes a history buff with a Masters Degree in Administration. Hes a speed reader, and he taught a young Hawkeye coach Cowboy boot etiquette during a recent Texas back roads drive.

But bagging a bear?

Ive done a lot of stuff, Greg Davis said during an hour-long interview recently, but Ive never hunted bear.

Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg, left, and offensive coordinator Greg Davis are pictured during a practice in March. (Benjamin Roberts / Iowa City Press-Citizen photo)

In this instance, quarterback James Vandenberg is one-up on just the second offensive coordinator Kirk Ferentz has hired in 13 seasons at Iowa, a respected veteran whose play calling starts Sept. 1 against Northern Illinois at Chicagos Soldier Field.

Davis, 61, is a grandfather. Hes religious, but he doesnt lace interviews with his beliefs. Hes seen it all the good and the not so good during 38 years in football coaching, but he could only listen in amazement when told the story about how his passer killed a bear.

He comes back from his trip and tells me a story about being up in a tree with a compound bow, and this bear gets to the tree, rises up, puts his big claw in the tree, and pulls himself up, Davis said.

James said he was not in a position where he could shoot, and I said well, you had your pistol ready, and he said he didnt have a pistol. I said youre not as smart as you thought you were.

The affable Davis laughed and shook his head as he recounted the story, one of many he told during the get-to-know-you interview.

More here:
Greg Davis: History buff, speed readerand 38 years of coaching