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Leonard Drake, a coaching veteran with over 25 years of experience, is in his fourth season as the head coach of the Lady Cardinal basketball team. Prior to taking over the women's program, Drake spent the previous five seasons as an assistant on the Lamar men's basketball staff. In his three seasons with the women's team, Drake has coached four all-conference performers. The 11th head basketball coach in the Lady Cardinals' history, Drake brought previous women's basketball coaching experience into his current position, after serving as head women's basketball coach at Xavier University of New Orleans for the 1984-85 season, where he guided the Lady Rush to the District 30 playoffs. "I'm really excited about this opportunity," Drake said after earning the job three years ago. "I'm excited to be running my own program again, especially here at Lamar where I believe I have established myself in the community." While a member of the Lamar men's coaching staff, Drake helped the Cardinals win the 2000 Southland Conference Tournament championship and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament where they faced Duke in the first round. "Leonard is the best X and O assistant that I've had the pleasure of working with," former LU and current Wagner College head coach Mike Deane said of Drake. "He is the perfect choice for the women's program and Lamar University." Before coming to Lamar, Drake spent four seasons as the head coach at Central Michigan from 1993-97. Prior to that, Drake spent eight years (1985-93) as the associate head coach at Ball State. While at Ball State, the Cardinals won 20 or more games six times. Ball State also won three Mid-American Conference titles, appeared in four NCAA Tournaments and three National Invitation Tournaments, while notching three Top 25 rankings. Ball State's 1989-90 team lost 69-67 to eventual National Champion and No. 1-ranked UNLV in the 'Sweet 16' of the 1990 NCAA tournament. Drake spent six years at Xavier University of New Orleans before joining the staff at Ball State. As an assistant men's basketball coach he helped the Gold Rush post a 129-49 overall record, earn two trips to the NAIA National Tournament and win 20 games in four of six seasons. "Leonard has the ability to relate to people and has a tremendous demeanor," said Tennessee Associate Head Coach Al Brown, who has helped the Lady Volunteers win three National Championships. "He is a very good teacher of the game and has a comfortable way of expressing his philosophies to the players." Drake began his college coaching career as an assistant at Central Michigan in 1978. The Chippewas won the MAC championship that year and appeared in the 1979 NIT. Drake was a standout basketball player at Central Michigan from 1973-77. He earned team MVP honors in 1976 and was team captain and named CMU 'Athlete of the Year' in 1977. Drake is a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Black Coaches Association. He earned a bachelor of science degree in physical education from Central Michigan in 1978 and earned a masters degree in physical education from CMU in 1983. Drake and his wife, Rhonda, have two children - Jared (16) and Enjoli (10). |
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