It would seem natural that Jared Drake would follow in his late father’s footsteps, right? Leonard Drake (1954-2010) was a head and assistant men’s and women’s basketball coach for four-plus decades.
“I believe I was not put on this earth to be a coach,” said the younger Drake, the first-year St. Scholastica men’s basketball head coach. “I believe that God put me on this earth to be a disciple,” he stressed on his second collegiate head coaching opportunity.
Drake’s father nonetheless served as an inspiration: “God gave me the opportunity to use my platform to help show people the way,” said Jared on being a Black HC, “and show people that we don’t have to be the normal narrative.”
He started coaching after playing college and pro ball (Robert Morris College and Southern University; three developmental league teams) at his high school alma mater, James Whitcomb Riley (South Bend, Ind.) High School where he won a city championship. Then he was a head coach at three different high schools before getting his first collegiate job as men’s head coach at Southeastern Illinois College.
Later Drake accepted the associate head coach position at Philander Smith (Ark.) College. Before his hiring at Duluth-based St. Scholastica last spring, Drake served as assistant coach at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. He is the MIAC’s only Black head basketball coach.
“It was something that for about a month and a half I really pondered,” said Drake on the Saints’ job. “I just felt like it was a fit. I came to the interview and St. Scholastica welcomed me in, and they showed me that they would give me an opportunity to grow as a coach, but also be able to make my imprint.”
This season is an adjustment. We recently watched St. Scholastica snap an eight-game losing streak and earn its first MIAC win of the season, a four-point victory at Macalester Jan. 14.
“I believe that we’re seeing the fruits of our labor,” explained the Saints HC. “We’ve had to fight through a lot of trials and tribulations this year, but any culture isn’t real unless it comes alive through the players.
“We have a culture document that we use, that our guys have had the opportunity to study throughout the year. But unless it comes alive, it’s just words on a piece of paper. I think the guys are starting to figure that out now. So, you’re starting to see a little bit of difference.”
Being a Black coach, Drake said he doesn’t take that for granted.
“I would like to thank all of those before me. I would like to thank [former Macalester] Coach Abe Woldeslassie, who reached out to me when I took the job,” said Drake. “There’re other gentlemen like Cuonzo Martin and Shaka Smart and Dennis Gates. Those gentlemen allow me to call them and ask questions. And I appreciate those times.”
A Black coaches’ coach
Mike Tomlin earlier this month stepped down as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach after 19 seasons. He never had a losing season and won the Super Bowl in 2008.
“I can’t thank him enough,” North Carolina Central MBB Coach LeVelle Moton told MSR during last week’s MEAC coaches media call. Moton is good friends with Tomlin, and the two chatted prior to his scheduled Zoom appearance.
“I’ve said this so, so many times: He’s probably one of the main reasons I was hired [in 2009], and not only me but he also ushered in a new wave of young Black coaches when he won that Super Bowl,” said Moton. “Because he made it, he popularized it for young Black coaches to be cool and given that opportunity.
“He’s the best and he’s given so much back to Black coaches such as myself,” concluded Moton. “And not only on the football side, but also the basketball side. Man, I love him. That’s my brother for life.”
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.