Madison-Ridgeland Academy football coach Herbert Davis out of hospital, plans to attend next game

Madison-Ridgeland Academy football coach Herbert Davis, who missed his team's first two victories of the season while hospitalized because of problems related to his battle with kidney failure, shared good news Monday.

“I just got out of the hospital today, just a few minutes ago," Davis said in a phone interview with the Clarion Ledger. “I am sitting here doing dialysis, but I am out of the hospital, thank God.”

Davis also thanked everyone for their prayers and posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, "Gone home!! Thank you again for all your prayers!! It has been an unbelievable tough experience ... Prayer is so powerful!!

Davis, 56, went to the emergency room on Aug. 6 and was transferred to the intensive care unit because of a kidney infection. He was discharged on Aug.11 and prepared for meetings with his coaching staff but found he did not have the energy to work.

On Aug. 13, on his doctor's advice, Davis returned to the emergency room, where doctors found that fluid had built up around his heart. They drained a liter and a half of fluid.

“A lot of fluid and toxins got around my heart sac,” Davis said. “That caused a lot of problems.”

Davis said both of his kidneys are failing and he needs a transplant. For the past four years, Davis said he has been undergoing dialysis five days each week. Often, Davis leaves practice for dialysis that doesn't finish until 11 p.m.

“Taking treatment sometimes during football season gets kind of difficult,” Davis said, “but we make it work.”

Davis said his faith has sustained him and he feels blessed to coach football.

Davis said he is in three different hospital databases in Mississippi and is waiting to get a transplant. Davis said it is usually a five- to six-year wait for a kidney donor match and it would be better if he could receive a kidney from a live donor.

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“I have actually had two live donors that have wanted to give,” Davis said. “Both of them got down to the last test and failed it. I didn’t get it..”

Davis’ goal is to be at practice this week and in the press box for Friday night's game against Oak Forest Academy at BankPlus Stadium. His office overlooks the practice field and stadium, but he does not plan on being on the field.

“I just try to win each day, and do the best that I can do,” Davis said. “I pray to the Good Lord that things get better. I try my best to make an impact on those guys (team) every day.”

Davis, who has led MRA to three state titles since becoming coach in 2014, has a 207-89 record in 25 years of coaching. He also has won state titles at Brookhaven Academy (1993, 2009) and Pillow Academy (1997).

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MRA football: Herbert Davis out of hospital, plans to attend next game