DU
where, he feels committed to the program and the athletes at his alma mater. He says he particularly appreciates the backing he has received from head coach
Bill Reichelt. “I have a great working relationship with
[Reichelt] who has always given me the support and autonomy to grow as a coach,” says Davidson. “That’s the
main reason I’ve stayed.”
Still, Davidson hasn’t ruled out the possibility of coaching at the World Cup level one day. “My goal with coaching [NCAA] has always been to develop a program like I
wanted when I was an athlete,” he says. Davidson was
a late bloomer, initially told he should quit because he
would never go anywhere as a ski racer. But he went
on to race at UVM, was an NCAA All-American in 2004,
and competed in the World University Games in 2005
and 2007. Now Davidson shares his “unparalleled passion for the sport and tireless work ethic,” according to
Reichelt, with future Catamount champions.
If there were an award for the best assistant in the
country, though, Aaron Haffey at the University of Denver could give Davidson a run for the title. Haffey joined
the staff at Denver after being named 2001 Coach of
the Year at the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club
and working five years as a U.S. Ski Team technician
with the Europa and World Cup squads. “Aaron Haffey
is one of the most knowledgeable coaches on the circuit,” says head coach Andy LeRoy. “Most people think
technicians just pull a file and drip wax, but that couldn’t
be further from the truth. Technicians are on the hill for
most runs, sit in on video sessions, and conference with
the staff about how to prepare and personalize equipment for each athlete. This hands-on approach has resulted in [Haffey accumulating] a wealth of knowledge
that is hard to come by.”
Haffey pursued the assistant position at Denver because he felt he had plateaued as a serviceman and
was ready to get back into coaching high-level athletes.
He handles all of the team’s equipment needs while also
balancing coursework in the fall, spring, and summer
quarters at the school. He helped lead the Pioneers to a
national championship in 2010 and hopes to the do the
same again this year, but he also has his eyes on larger
prizes down the road. “Right now I’m trying to make this
program as good as it can be,” says Haffey. “Eventually,
though, I would like to go back to coach with the national
team if I can.”
Says LeRoy: “He is not just an assistant coach; he’s
good enough to run any program in the country. DU is
lucky to have him!”
Johnny Davidson cut his teeth with
the Norwegian National Team.
