Learn how one remarkable coach shaped a generation of athletes and inspired a women's tennis team to achieve the impossible after her sudden passing.
In the spring of 1985, tragedy struck the women's tennis program at Miami University when beloved head coach Leann Grimes Davidge died suddenly at just twenty-nine years old. Her loss devastated a young team built around her leadership, vision, and unwavering belief in her players. Left reeling by grief and uncertainty, the athletes faced a season that seemed impossible to salvage.
What followed was an extraordinary story of resilience, friendship, and determination. As the team struggled to navigate life without the coach who had united them, they confronted not only personal heartbreak but also the challenges facing women's collegiate athletics in the years before Title IX had fully transformed the landscape. Forced to find strength from within, the players rallied around one another and the memory of the woman who had inspired them.
Through intimate portraits of the athletes, coaches, families, and community members forever changed by Davidge's death, John Andrew Burgman chronicles an unforgettable championship journey born from loss. Equal parts inspiring sports story, leadership lesson, and tribute to the enduring power of mentorship, Love and Honor is a testament to how great coaches continue to shape lives long after they are gone.
Inside you'll discover:
The remarkable story of Coach Leann Grimes Davidge and the lasting leadership lessons that continued to guide her players long after her passing.
A firsthand look at women's collegiate athletics in the 1980s and the challenges athletes faced as Title IX was still reshaping opportunities for women in sports.
Powerful insights into resilience, teamwork, and love in the face of unimaginable loss.
The championship journey that transformed a grieving tennis team into an enduring example of perseverance and unity.
If you enjoyed stories such as The Boys in the Boat or The Last Lecture, you'll love this moving true story of teamwork, resilience, and a championship won in honor of a remarkable legacy.
