Coach Rod Drake ’84: An Unstoppable Journey of Resilience and Inspiration
by Brandon Cox ’10
Rod Drake’s journey began in Owensboro, Kentucky, where he was a standout player on Owensboro High School’s 1980 State Championship basketball team.
Originally set to play for Murray State University, fate had other plans. After returning from an official visit to MSU his senior year of high school, he learned that the Racers coach was interviewing for other jobs.
Soon after, Drake attended a Kentucky Wesleyan College (KWC) game at the Sportscenter. There, he met Coach Mike Polio and legendary broadcaster Joel Utley ’74, who painted a vivid picture of life at KWC and beyond.
“It turned out almost exactly how he predicted it,” Drake recalls with a smile.
As a hometown kid, Drake’s dorm at Kendall Hall was just a mile-and-a-half from his childhood home. Yet, KWC felt like an oasis.
“A whole new world opened up to me when I turned off Scherm Road onto the Quad,” he says. “You have to experience The Wesleyan Way to really understand it. Kentucky Wesleyan changed my life.”
Drake’s time at KWC was marked by exceptional achievements.
As a 6′ 2″ guard, he was a key player in bringing KWC back to prominence in Division II college basketball. He started in the Final Four twice, earned two-time All-American honors, and had his jersey number 10 retired. His stats speak volumes: second in career assists with 458, seventh in career points with 1,664, and 13th in career rebounds with 648.
“It was a good time to be on campus,” Drake reminisces. “Basketball was having a resurgence. They brought football back my senior year. It was exciting.”
During his time at KWC, Drake formed lifelong friendships, particularly with Sports Information Director Roy Pickerill ’75.
“Pick has been there for me in the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in my life,” Drake says, emphasizing the positive influences at KWC. “Kids on that campus are so fortunate to be surrounded by so many caring, positive people.”
After graduating, Drake followed his teammate and friend, Henk Pieterse ’84, to Holland to play professionally in the Continental Basketball Association.
However, his journey didn’t end there.
After his basketball career, Drake completed his teaching certifications but was unsure if the classroom was for him.
He spent 25 years with the Cliff Hagan Boys and Girls Club, 18 of those as unit director. At 46, he finally put his teaching degree to use, joining the staff at Owensboro High School to teach special education and coach basketball, where he has been for the last 18 years.
He uses humor and positivity to connect with his students and help them succeed. Drake’s approach to both teaching and coaching is centered on meeting the individualized needs of his students and players. He emphasizes the importance of adapting to different learning styles and maintaining a positive environment.
In 2015, Drake led Owensboro High School to a State Championship, making him the only coach in Kentucky high school basketball history to win as both a player and head coach for the same school. That same year, he was named the Courier-Journal’s Kentucky Coach of the Year.
Drake’s contributions to basketball have been widely recognized. He was inducted into the Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013. His legacy is celebrated both in the school’s lobby and in various tributes around Owensboro.
He shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
“Retirement is not in my vocabulary,” Drake asserts. “I don’t know what I’d do with myself. Retiring doesn’t sound fun.”
Drake’s passion for changing lives every day continues to drive him. He invests in others through coaching and teaching special education.
“The greatest thing in life, what success is, is being able to go and do what people say you aren’t supposed to be able to do,” he says. “I was cut from the basketball team in seventh grade but ended up playing professionally. I didn’t start teaching and coaching until I was 46, but we ended up winning a State Championship.”
“If it’s in God’s plan for you, it will happen. Pray on it. Stick with it. You can do it.”
Drake’s friendship with Henk Pieterse has endured since their days at KWC.
Pieterse, who now teaches anti-bullying through basketball and music in his home country of the Netherlands and Belgium, shares a deep bond with Drake.
“Rod once said to his parents when I first visited their house: ‘Mom, Dad, this is Henk Pieterse (pronounced Hank Peters). He ain’t black, he ain’t white, he is Dutch.’ From that moment on we have been best friends. I really love Rod with all my heart.”
Coach Rod Drake’s life and career are a testament to his dedication, resilience, and impact on his community. His journey from a celebrated player to a respected coach and teacher highlights his commitment to excellence and his ability to inspire others.