Leonard Drake, 56, Athletic Director at Evansville Central High School, passed away on Wednesday, September 29, 2010, at St. Mary's Medical Center in Evansville, Indiana.
He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and moved with his family to Niles, Michigan, at age 15.
A standout basketball player at Brandywine High School, he received a full athletic scholarship to attend Central Michigan University (CMU) where he earned bachelor and master degrees, was a four-time letter winner, team captain, and the 1977 "athlete of the year." He is a member of the Brandywine and CMU Halls of Fame and his retired jerseys hang proudly in Brandywine's gym and CMU's Rose Arena. Leonard later returned to his alma mater, CMU, for his first head coaching position.
Coach Drake was a popular and well-known basketball coach who inspired and touched the lives of thousands of young people across America. His illustrious college coaching career spanned 33 years. He began at Xavier University (1978-85) in Louisiana where he coached men's and women's basketball. He then moved to Indiana to coach at Ball State University (1985-93) as an assistant to Al Brown, and remained on the BSU staff's of Rick Majerus and Dick Hunsaker. His extensive coaching career also took him and his family to Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, and most recently to Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti.
Success followed Leonard throughout his career including eight conference championships; seven conference tournament championships; five NCAA Tournament appearances including the 1990 "Sweet 16"; four NIT appearances; and one WNIT appearance.
He was a member of Cathedral Faith Baptist Church in Beaumont, Texas; International Gospel Center in Ecorse, Mich.; National Basketball Coaches Association; and the organization 100 Black Men. Leonard was actively involved in his community and deeply committed to helping young people realize their dreams.
He is survived by his loving family, wife, of 24 years, Rhonda ( Haydel) Drake, Evansville, Ind.; son, Jared Leonard Drake, senior at Southern University in New Orleans, La.; daughter, Enjolí Desiree Drake, sophomore at Central High School, Evansville, Ind.; brothers, Chuck Drake, Las Vegas, N.V., Kenneth Charles Drake, Chandler, Ariz., Jason Leonard Drake, South Bend, Ind., David Drake, Lincoln, Ill., Bilal Rahman Drake, Chicago, Ill.; mother-in-law, Joyce M. Simms, Beaumont, Texas; father-in-law, Honoré S. Haydel, Jr.; brother-in-law, Honoré S. Haydel, III, both of Baton Rouge, La.; many nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, former players, teammates, colleagues, and other friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Ruth and Charles Drake.
Friends may visit from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, October 4, 2010, at Kaniewski and Sons Funeral Home.
Funeral services are at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 5, 2010, at Kaniewski and Sons Funeral Home, 3545 North Bendix Drive, South Bend, Ind. Pastors Delbert A. Mack and Marvin Miles are officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery.
A Community Celebration of Life will be held at Brandywine High School on Tuesday, October 5, 2010, at 7 p.m. An additional memorial service is being planned in Evansville, IN, at Memorial Baptist Church.
Memorial contributions may be made at the Evansville Federal Teacher's Credit Union, 4401 Theatre Drive, Evansville, IN 47715, for a College 529 Savings Plan for his daughter Enjolí Drake.
Browning Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements in Evansville.
Published in Courier Press on October 2, 2010
He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and moved with his family to Niles, Michigan, at age 15.
A standout basketball player at Brandywine High School, he received a full athletic scholarship to attend Central Michigan University (CMU) where he earned bachelor and master degrees, was a four-time letter winner, team captain, and the 1977 "athlete of the year." He is a member of the Brandywine and CMU Halls of Fame and his retired jerseys hang proudly in Brandywine's gym and CMU's Rose Arena. Leonard later returned to his alma mater, CMU, for his first head coaching position.
Coach Drake was a popular and well-known basketball coach who inspired and touched the lives of thousands of young people across America. His illustrious college coaching career spanned 33 years. He began at Xavier University (1978-85) in Louisiana where he coached men's and women's basketball. He then moved to Indiana to coach at Ball State University (1985-93) as an assistant to Al Brown, and remained on the BSU staff's of Rick Majerus and Dick Hunsaker. His extensive coaching career also took him and his family to Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, and most recently to Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti.
Success followed Leonard throughout his career including eight conference championships; seven conference tournament championships; five NCAA Tournament appearances including the 1990 "Sweet 16"; four NIT appearances; and one WNIT appearance.
He was a member of Cathedral Faith Baptist Church in Beaumont, Texas; International Gospel Center in Ecorse, Mich.; National Basketball Coaches Association; and the organization 100 Black Men. Leonard was actively involved in his community and deeply committed to helping young people realize their dreams.
He is survived by his loving family, wife, of 24 years, Rhonda ( Haydel) Drake, Evansville, Ind.; son, Jared Leonard Drake, senior at Southern University in New Orleans, La.; daughter, Enjolí Desiree Drake, sophomore at Central High School, Evansville, Ind.; brothers, Chuck Drake, Las Vegas, N.V., Kenneth Charles Drake, Chandler, Ariz., Jason Leonard Drake, South Bend, Ind., David Drake, Lincoln, Ill., Bilal Rahman Drake, Chicago, Ill.; mother-in-law, Joyce M. Simms, Beaumont, Texas; father-in-law, Honoré S. Haydel, Jr.; brother-in-law, Honoré S. Haydel, III, both of Baton Rouge, La.; many nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, former players, teammates, colleagues, and other friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Ruth and Charles Drake.
Friends may visit from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, October 4, 2010, at Kaniewski and Sons Funeral Home.
Funeral services are at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 5, 2010, at Kaniewski and Sons Funeral Home, 3545 North Bendix Drive, South Bend, Ind. Pastors Delbert A. Mack and Marvin Miles are officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery.
A Community Celebration of Life will be held at Brandywine High School on Tuesday, October 5, 2010, at 7 p.m. An additional memorial service is being planned in Evansville, IN, at Memorial Baptist Church.
Memorial contributions may be made at the Evansville Federal Teacher's Credit Union, 4401 Theatre Drive, Evansville, IN 47715, for a College 529 Savings Plan for his daughter Enjolí Drake.
Browning Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements in Evansville.
Published in Courier Press on October 2, 2010
Leonard Drake, 56, Athletic Director at Evansville Central High School, passed away on Wednesday, September 29, 2010, at St. Mary's Medical Center in Evansville, Indiana.
He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and moved with his family to Niles, Michigan, at age 15.
A standout basketball player at Brandywine High School, he received a full athletic scholarship to attend Central Michigan University (CMU) where he earned bachelor and master degrees, was a four-time letter winner, team captain, and the 1977 "athlete of the year." He is a member of the Brandywine and CMU Halls of Fame and his retired jerseys hang proudly in Brandywine's gym and CMU's Rose Arena. Leonard later returned to his alma mater, CMU, for his first head coaching position.
Coach Drake was a popular and well-known basketball coach who inspired and touched the lives of thousands of young people across America. His illustrious college coaching career spanned 33 years. He began at Xavier University (1978-85) in Louisiana where he coached men's and women's basketball. He then moved to Indiana to coach at Ball State University (1985-93) as an assistant to Al Brown, and remained on the BSU staff's of Rick Majerus and Dick Hunsaker. His extensive coaching career also took him and his family to Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, and most recently to Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti.
Success followed Leonard throughout his career including eight conference championships; seven conference tournament championships; five NCAA Tournament appearances including the 1990 "Sweet 16"; four NIT appearances; and one WNIT appearance.
He was a member of Cathedral Faith Baptist Church in Beaumont, Texas; International Gospel Center in Ecorse, Mich.; National Basketball Coaches Association; and the organization 100 Black Men. Leonard was actively involved in his community and deeply committed to helping young people realize their dreams.
He is survived by his loving family, wife, of 24 years, Rhonda ( Haydel) Drake, Evansville, Ind.; son, Jared Leonard Drake, senior at Southern University in New Orleans, La.; daughter, Enjolí Desiree Drake, sophomore at Central High School, Evansville, Ind.; brothers, Chuck Drake, Las Vegas, N.V., Kenneth Charles Drake, Chandler, Ariz., Jason Leonard Drake, South Bend, Ind., David Drake, Lincoln, Ill., Bilal Rahman Drake, Chicago, Ill.; mother-in-law, Joyce M. Simms, Beaumont, Texas; father-in-law, Honoré S. Haydel, Jr.; brother-in-law, Honoré S. Haydel, III, both of Baton Rouge, La.; many nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, former players, teammates, colleagues, and other friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Ruth and Charles Drake.
Friends may visit from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, October 4, 2010, at Kaniewski and Sons Funeral Home.
Funeral services are at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 5, 2010, at Kaniewski and Sons Funeral Home, 3545 North Bendix Drive, South Bend, Ind. Pastors Delbert A. Mack and Marvin Miles are officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery.
A Community Celebration of Life will be held at Brandywine High School on Tuesday, October 5, 2010, at 7 p.m. An additional memorial service is being planned in Evansville, IN, at Memorial Baptist Church.
Memorial contributions may be made at the Evansville Federal Teacher's Credit Union, 4401 Theatre Drive, Evansville, IN 47715, for a College 529 Savings Plan for his daughter Enjolí Drake.
Browning Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements in Evansville.
Published in Courier Press on October 2, 2010
He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and moved with his family to Niles, Michigan, at age 15.
A standout basketball player at Brandywine High School, he received a full athletic scholarship to attend Central Michigan University (CMU) where he earned bachelor and master degrees, was a four-time letter winner, team captain, and the 1977 "athlete of the year." He is a member of the Brandywine and CMU Halls of Fame and his retired jerseys hang proudly in Brandywine's gym and CMU's Rose Arena. Leonard later returned to his alma mater, CMU, for his first head coaching position.
Coach Drake was a popular and well-known basketball coach who inspired and touched the lives of thousands of young people across America. His illustrious college coaching career spanned 33 years. He began at Xavier University (1978-85) in Louisiana where he coached men's and women's basketball. He then moved to Indiana to coach at Ball State University (1985-93) as an assistant to Al Brown, and remained on the BSU staff's of Rick Majerus and Dick Hunsaker. His extensive coaching career also took him and his family to Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, and most recently to Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti.
Success followed Leonard throughout his career including eight conference championships; seven conference tournament championships; five NCAA Tournament appearances including the 1990 "Sweet 16"; four NIT appearances; and one WNIT appearance.
He was a member of Cathedral Faith Baptist Church in Beaumont, Texas; International Gospel Center in Ecorse, Mich.; National Basketball Coaches Association; and the organization 100 Black Men. Leonard was actively involved in his community and deeply committed to helping young people realize their dreams.
He is survived by his loving family, wife, of 24 years, Rhonda ( Haydel) Drake, Evansville, Ind.; son, Jared Leonard Drake, senior at Southern University in New Orleans, La.; daughter, Enjolí Desiree Drake, sophomore at Central High School, Evansville, Ind.; brothers, Chuck Drake, Las Vegas, N.V., Kenneth Charles Drake, Chandler, Ariz., Jason Leonard Drake, South Bend, Ind., David Drake, Lincoln, Ill., Bilal Rahman Drake, Chicago, Ill.; mother-in-law, Joyce M. Simms, Beaumont, Texas; father-in-law, Honoré S. Haydel, Jr.; brother-in-law, Honoré S. Haydel, III, both of Baton Rouge, La.; many nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, former players, teammates, colleagues, and other friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Ruth and Charles Drake.
Friends may visit from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, October 4, 2010, at Kaniewski and Sons Funeral Home.
Funeral services are at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 5, 2010, at Kaniewski and Sons Funeral Home, 3545 North Bendix Drive, South Bend, Ind. Pastors Delbert A. Mack and Marvin Miles are officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery.
A Community Celebration of Life will be held at Brandywine High School on Tuesday, October 5, 2010, at 7 p.m. An additional memorial service is being planned in Evansville, IN, at Memorial Baptist Church.
Memorial contributions may be made at the Evansville Federal Teacher's Credit Union, 4401 Theatre Drive, Evansville, IN 47715, for a College 529 Savings Plan for his daughter Enjolí Drake.
Browning Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements in Evansville.
Published in Courier Press on October 2, 2010
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