Not every Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame member won Olympic golds or Daytona 500s, or coached UT teams to NCAA championships. Some are big fishes in smaller ponds, who worked just as hard, with just as much dignity and pride. Benjamin “Joe” Daves exemplifies these values. The first year of his coaching career, Daves’ star player was none other than the future great UT basketball coach, Pat Summitt. He then became assistant basketball coach at Clarksville High School in 1965 before moving on in 1969 to become men’s and women’s basketball coach and athletic director at Motlow State Community College in Tullahoma, where he remained until 1985. Motlow State’s athletic program flourished under Benjamin’s guidance, with men’s basketball winning two Eastern and conference division championships. And under his tenure, Motlow State produced six All-American athletes. Daves was chosen the Tullahoma Kiwanis Club “Young Man of the Year” in 1973. He was an officer in the TJCAA for ten years, including president from 1982 to 1984, baseball tournament director four times, and the women’s basketball conference director once. In the community, he also assisted the Coffee County Special Olympics and spoke at many civic and service organizations promoting the community colleges and the TJCAA. After Motlow State, “Joe” went on to his position as head basketball coach at Franklin High School, where he will retire in the year 2000. Benjamin “Joe” Daves is another proud light in the bright sky of Tennessee sports history.
