"Chomaha!"
John Davis (JD) '82,'84 makes UCSB Baseball's first legacy commitment
Friends of John Davis (JD) ’82,’84 will tell you he is a baseball fanatic.
A UC Santa Barbara Foundation trustee, JD has worked closely with UCSB Athletics for the past 13 years and is dedicated to UCSB Baseball. In 2021, he helped launch the Chomaha Fund to rally community support for the team. His sports facilities support over the years has made an impact on the game experience for the fan — but more importantly, for the baseball player who dedicates time and energy to UC Santa Barbara. JD designated a bequest for UCSB Baseball to prove he would be there for the team “through thick and thin.”
“For whatever reason, I had assumed that the private support raised was beyond what was needed to operate athletic programs. That's far from the truth. It became quickly apparent to me that for this program to excel, it needed to raise more,” said JD.
That’s when he named UCSB Baseball as a beneficiary in his estate plans and encouraged others to do the same.
“I knew how important it was to Coach Andrew Checketts to see commitments from people like me in the community,” said JD. “I wanted to make sure he knew that we were going to be here to help raise more money for UCSB Baseball than has been raised in the past.”
Checketts joined the Gauchos as head coach in 2011. During his tenure, the Gauchos have won two Big West Championships and represented the community on the national stage at seven National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Regionals. In 2016, the team reached their first-ever College World Series, held annually in Omaha, Nebraska. ‘Chomaha’ became the Gauchos’ rallying cry. The team had a banner season in 2024. UC Santa Barbara competed in and hosted NCAA Regionals on campus, and with a dominant conference campaign of 26-4, the Gauchos won their third Big West Championship in the last five years.
“JD has been on the ground floor with us since I got here,” said Checketts. “He built relationships with his friends when I needed help connecting in the community. He was able to not only support the program himself but also help us expand our donor base and our network. JD’s legacy gift helps us achieve two goals, sustainability and growth. And, he loves the game: we get to break it down together.”
As a student, JD played intramural sports. He was inducted into the Intramural Hall of Fame twice, for flag football and basketball, and continued to play well into his forties. “Sports teach young adults how to get along with not just the best player, but also the ones that need help. I credit UC Santa Barbara not only for my academic education but also for my social education,” said JD.
After graduating with his master’s in mechanical engineering in 1984, JD joined the Santa Barbara Research Center of Hughes Aircraft. He would work there for over 30 years as it became General Motors and then Raytheon. “I was in management for the last 20 years of my career,” said JD. “I interviewed hundreds of engineers over the years, and I knew they were all smart enough. What I wanted to know is: Can you communicate? Can you get along? Can you lead?”
He admires the UCSB Baseball players for these qualities. Current UCSB Baseball pitcher Frank Camarillo ’26 is the recipient of JD’s Living Scholarship.
“JD’s support helps me be the best I can be for this program and for UC Santa Barbara. I’m grateful for JD, who’s always supporting me. I even played summer ball here with the Santa Barbara Foresters, and he’s there helping out, too. It’s made my experience easier and much more fun. He’s helping me live out my dream,” said Frank.
This is Frank’s third year on the team and the first year he is eligible to be drafted for Major League Baseball, which is his goal. “I'm very proud of our student-athletes when they move on and represent UC Santa Barbara out there in the community,” said JD.
Published March 2025
I knew how important it was to Coach Andrew Checketts to see commitments from people like me in the community. I wanted to make sure he knew that we were going to be here to help raise more money for UCSB Baseball than has been raised in the past.
John Davis (JD) ’82,’84
