Getting to Know Chrystal Davis, PK-8 School Faculty
As PK-8 Athletic Coordinator, Chrystal Davis brings heart, discipline, and vision to Gulliver Prep Athletics. A Miami native and lifelong athlete, she understands firsthand how sports shape not only performance, but character. Through youth sports and competitive play, she helps students build confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging that carries far beyond the field.
Tell us about your background and what led you to a career in athletics and student development.
I started playing basketball at age five and was a four-year varsity starter at Miami Palmetto Senior High School. I went on to play on a basketball scholarship at Western Oklahoma State College before transferring to the University of Miami, where I majored in education and minored in sports administration. I later earned my Master’s Degree in sports management from St. Thomas University.
I was supposed to play basketball at UM, but I tore my ACL the summer before my junior year. Although basketball was all I knew, that experience pushed me to discover a new path. I realized the drive I felt as a player could be redirected into working in athletics, specifically as an Athletic Director. I always admired my high school Athletic Director and the way she connected with students and built respect across the community. I knew I wanted to make that kind of impact one day.
What brought you to Gulliver, and what has been most rewarding about working with students across PK through 8?
While at UM, I completed an internship in the Middle School Athletics Department at Gulliver. During that time, I reconnected with Jay Zambolla, who coached at my high school. He offered me a position on the girls’ basketball coaching staff, and I immediately knew I was on the right path.
After coaching multiple sports across different levels, I was offered the PK-8 Athletic Coordinator position. This is now my fifth year in the role. The most rewarding part is seeing the growth in our students and watching their excitement around our Youth Sports programs.
How do you use athletics as a way to teach teamwork, confidence, and resilience at an early age?
I help each student-athlete understand the value they bring to a team. Every role matters. Confidence grows through positive reinforcement, gratitude, and constructive guidance. Resilience is built through hard work, trial and error, and never giving up. These are principles I reinforce daily.
What skills or values do you hope students carry with them as they move through the Athletics Program and beyond?
Hard work, dedication, consistency, and being a good teammate. I also remind them to take care of their bodies and listen to what they need. Things will not always go as planned, but it is important to keep going.
Can you share a moment that stands out where you saw a student or team grow through challenge or collaboration?
Our second-grade Raiders flag football team entered a new bracket after winning the championship the previous year as first graders. They were not the biggest or the fastest team, and at times they seemed hesitant against older opponents. But they stayed focused in practice, supported one another on the field, and never gave up. They became back-to-back champions. It was a special moment that reflected what teamwork and belief can accomplish.
What do you love most about being part of the Gulliver community?
The relationships I have built with my colleagues. Being surrounded by people who care deeply about students makes this work meaningful every day.
Rapid Fire:
Favorite sport to watch or coach:
Basketball. Ball is life.
Go-to pump-up playlist:
Hip-hop, RnB, or country.
Dream sporting event to attend:
March Madness NCAA Tournament.
Support Our Faculty:
Faculty like Chrystal are the heart of the Gulliver experience, leading with energy, modeling resilience, and investing deeply in who our students are becoming. When you support Gulliver, you invest directly in the educators and coaches who shape character, confidence, and community every day on our fields and in our gyms. Your generosity ensures our faculty continue to grow, collaborate, and inspire the next generation of Raiders—click here to donate.
