[1] Davitch started two years at guard for the Wildcats and was the captain of the wrestling team as a senior; he earned a bachelor's degree in education from UA in 1965.
When the Big Sky was formed in 1963, Idaho intended to join for all sports except football, and continued to play as a "University Division" independent, which it did through 1964 with Dee Andros.
Idaho reluctantly agreed to conference play in the Big Sky for the 1965 season, but maintained the upper tier status by filling their non-conference schedule with other University Division teams.
The Big Sky added two teams in 1970, and it became increasingly difficult for the Vandals to stay healthy through its competitive non-conference games, then often fared poorly with reserves when conference play resumed.
Troxel was asked to resign by the new university president on New Year's Eve, six weeks after his fourth season concluded with a disappointing 3–8 record.
Expectations were high entering the 1981 season,[13] and the "Gold Rush" Vandals were picked as one of the top five teams in Division I-AA by Sports Illustrated.
Davitch compiled a 15–29 (.341) record in his four seasons in Moscow and became the fifth consecutive head coach to fired;[16] he was notified nine days before his final game,[17] a 43–45 home loss to rival Boise State, the defending I-AA national champions.
In 1982, Davitch returned to Tucson to work as an athletics administrator for the public school district and as a broadcaster for Arizona football.
After several years in Arizona, Davitch returned to Pennsylvania and was the head coach at his alma mater, Greater Johnstown High School, from 1985 to 1990.