On March 1, 2017, the Matt Davidson Memorial Scholarship Fund, a permanent endowment, was established at the Community Foundation of Marquette County with gifts received from family and friends. This fund will be used primarily to provide scholarships to graduating senior student athletes of Republic-Michigamme Schools. Matt Davidson was a highly regarded teacher and coach in the Republic-Michagamme School district.
An annual 5 on 5 basketball tournament in honor of Matt Davidson has been held annually since the popular teacher and coach died in a single-vehicle accident on U.S. 41 in Baraga county in January of 2015. Up until the time of his death, Davidson had been a K-12 physical education and health teacher at R-M for 16 years. He previously coached both the boys and girls varsity programs when the teams played in separate seasons, with a highlight being his 2003 girls team winning a Class D regional championship. Davidson was also the school’s boys and girls track coach. Scholarships have been awarded annually to Republic-Michagamme Students with the proceeds from the basketball tournament.
Matt loved basketball, he loved playing it in City League–especially when the old bucks could beat the young hotshots. Years of experience, strategy, and wiliness winning out against the young run-and-gun kids– that made him happy. He loved teaching it. That moment when one of the kids “got it” on the court– that made him happy. He loved coaching it. It wasn’t as much about winning and losing-although that mattered to his competitive spirit-but about seeing improvement. Seeing how it could make a difference. That made him happy.
Matt loved the kids at the Republic-Michigamme school. He loved teaching, coaching and caring for them. He always had a soft spot for the underdog. He taught and valued hard work, commitment, and teamwork. The Matt Davidson Memorial Scholarship has been established in his honor. This scholarship is for students that share that same attitude of hard work, commitment and teamwork and for the individual that reflects Matt’s willingness to dream and believe in themselves.
The annual 5 on 5 basketball tournament in honor of Matt Davidson will be held April 7th, 8th and 9th at the Republic Michigamme High School Gym. Games start at 6 on Friday. Admission is $2, all proceeds will go to the Matt Davidson Memorial Scholarship. Please contact Todd Brancheau 906-364-2451 for more information about the tournament. Gifts to the scholarship fund can be made here.