By Aaron Allen
The Seattle Medium
Tara Davis is easily one of Seattle’s most decorated athletes. But rather than talk about her accomplishments, Davis, a product of Rainier Beach High School, would much rather talk about the ingredients and organic benefits of the salad she had for lunch or how in a yesteryear exploring Seattle was mandatory when we were kids.
Davis’ athletic journey would see her claim multiple state championships in high school, become a standout collegiate athlete at the University of Washington, and become a pioneer in women’s professional basketball. However, she now sees herself as a community activist, mentor and educator for our youth, as she has taken what she learned from her personal journey and brought it straight back to her roots.
Currently serving as the Assistant Director of Athletics for the Seattle Public School District, Davis is responsible for the ten High Schools and twenty-two middle schools that make up largest school district in the state.
Tara’s mother, Gloria Roberts, says that Davis demonstrated leadership qualities at a young age and genuinely cares about the well-being of others.
“From a young age Tara possessed leadership qualities,” said Roberts. “She was humble and cared for others and was deeply spiritual.”
Born and raised in Seattle, Davis knew as a young child that her persona and her athletic gifts made her special but she wouldn’t tell you or show you until you were on the court or field. Growing up, Tara, who was tall for her age, initially struggled socially and found it difficult to make friends or trust others as a young girl. However, it was Davis’ athletic abilities that allowed her to overcome these barriers, as she gravitated towards competing against boys.
“I remember being tall for my age growing up and for a girl that can be very awkward,” recalled Davis. “I didn’t have many girlfriends growing up, so out on the playfields of school I naturally gravitated towards boys because I was good at sports.”
Roberts also recognized her daughter’s athletic ability and kept Davis involved in as many athletic activities as she could.
“She was just innately gifted when it came to athletics and academics,” said Roberts of the future student/athlete. “I saw it at an early age, she was around eight and she was very good at any sport I put her in, whether it be soccer, basketball or track she was just a head and shoulder above all the rest.”
Davis loved school and excelled academically. But, there was a stint, where her grades and social interactions began to struggle when, at age 8, her father suddenly passed away, leaving Davis to wonder why?
“That was a tough time for me,” says Davis. “I recall being very angry after my father passed away and not really knowing why, but I was just mad.”
Deeply affected by her father death, Davis began to struggle academically, so her mother pulled her out public school and put her in private school at Saint Paul, which she attended until the 8th grade and excelled. She laughs when she ponders on those experiences and remembers thinking about going to Catholic School during the week and then a Baptist church on Sundays.
“That move into a private school setting was the best thing to happen me,” says Davis. “It strengthened my discipline in studying, there I learned to love school again, there I learned to be leader.”
With an opportunity to attend Holy Names High School in Seattle, Davis harkened back to her elementary school days reminiscent of her struggles to make friends with girls and thought “mmmm I’m not a Holy Names kind of girl, that doesn’t sound like a good idea” and asked her mother if she could attend Rainier Beach.
“I’m Rainier Beach born and raised,” proclaims Davis. “Cloverdale like you can really claim Cloverdale, but I was Rainier Beach through and through.”
As an achiever both academically and athletically, Davis had dreams of becoming an Olympic athlete. As a young girl she marveled at the Olympics.
“My goal as a young person growing up…. I thought I would be an Olympic athlete and so that’s what I wanted to do,” says Davis. “Looking at the Olympics, looking at just what it embodied, and how people looked up to them, I wanted to be one of those people.”
“It inspired me to get out there and work hard and not just in athletics but in all things, at least most of the time,” Davis continued with a laugh.
At Rainier Beach, Davis was an All-Metro standout in basketball, track and field and soccer. She helped the Lady Vikings reach the state basketball tournament four consecutive seasons and was honored as a Converse All-American her senior year.
In track and field, she was state champion in the long jump, 300 intermediate hurdles and twice in the triple jump.
She also led Rainier Beach to their only Metro League soccer title as an All-Metro defender. Davis dominated every sports field she competed on, and as a result, Rainier Beach retired her jersey, which now hangs in the school’s gymnasium.
“In the beginning of her career in high school she was remarkable setting records as a ninth grader,” says Roberts. “The press loved her.”
After high school, Davis, a highly recruited student athlete by colleges across the nation, chose to attend the University of Washington. A two-sport athlete on the college level, Davis was a record setter in both basketball and track and field in the PAC 10 conference.
Rhonda Smith-Banchero, a long-time friend and a college teammate of Davis, says that Davis is one of the most-humble people that she knows.
“I’ve known Tara for what almost 33 years,” says Smith-Banchero. “She possesses a resilience, a positive and is willing to give a good word regardless of what she may be going through.”
“Her poise, her smile, her empathy was always on display,” continued Smith-Banchero. “Tara is remarkable.”
Between 1990 and 1994, Davis helped spearhead a dominant run for the University of Washington women’s basketball team, where they reached the NCAA tournament each of those seasons.
While they had many good players on the team, Smith-Banchero says that Davis played a significant role in the success of the team.
“Tara’s leadership was tireless, she was great as a teammate, she was our best defender, super energy,” says Smith-Banchero, who finished her career at UW as the all-time scorer and third-leading rebounder. “Tara, during the season, usually defended the other team’s best player, she was the leader of those teams.”
In track and field, Davis set UW school records in both the triple jump and long jump. Returning to Washington as a fifth-year senior, Davis won the Pac-10 long jump championship in 1995 and her triple jump of 41 feet, 7 3/4 inches is the Huskies’ all-time best mark. Her long jump of 20 feet, 8 1/2 inches is second all-time at Washington.
In 1994, Davis went on to receive a degree in general studies and business marketing. In addition, she was drafted by her hometown professional basketball team – The Seattle Reign of the ABL in 1995. She had a short stint with the New England Blizzard in the 96-97 season.
After the ABL went under from the pressure of the WNBA, Davis headed to play oversees for Israel. Then life as it does, changed course and Davis become a mother.
So, her trajectory changed as Davis embraced the blessing of becoming a mother. In that moment Davis decided to take her experience, her leadership, her humility, empathy and bring it back to her roots.
Within the community Davis extended her time and knowledge as both a coach and mentor during the summers with the Special Olympics. She also participated in various capacities at Seattle Parks Department recreation centers throughout the Seattle area.
Gloria Roberts acknowledges, “On and off the court Tara exuded a beautiful spirit, always looking out for others as a mentor and coach, she loves coaching young people.”
As a representative of the School District, she is constantly in the presence of the community’s youth mentoring and providing guidance. Davis’ love towards humanity stems from a deep spiritual connection that was instilled in her as a young childhood growing up as a member of Mt Zion Baptist Church.
Davis enjoys the idea of giving back. However, her community services doesn’t just address the youth, she is also very involved with the Multicultural Educational Rights Alliance, an organization and movement in the community to support teachers and education leaders.
While she is fine working behind the scenes, Davis volunteers her time to make difference. She does it for the kids and she does it for the city that she loves so much.
“I’m a Seattleite, from Henderson to Madison and beyond I know it all,” Davis says with pride.
But as she spoke of her accomplishments and the experience of becoming a mother it was evident that she was born to lead.
