Area Soccer Coach Reaches Rare Career Milestone

The mere fact that was on the scene to plant the seeds for a fantastic coaching career in soccer, and that he is still coaching and producing winning teams, is amazing.

Despite a change in demographics, the number of talented players shrinking and more schools competing for a smaller number of top players, Drake has managed to keep his programs ranked near the top.

On May 5, Drake reached a point that few coaches can claim to have reached.

He won his 1,000th game when the Titans beat John Burroughs, 3-1. In 43 years of coaching boys and girls soccer, Drake has a record of 1,000-464-159.

Drake has led his teams to 11 state boys titles at Aquinas and later on at Aquinas-Mercy. He coached one girls team to a state title at Aquinas-Mercy.

"Over the years, I've had some talented teams and some talented individuals," Drake said. "Sometimes you have a group of kids and somehow you find success when you get them to work together. It's always been the greatest challenge to try to put players into a position to win."

The times, the game and, above all, the players have each changed since Drake started coaching in 1968 at St. Thomas Aquinas.

Drake landed into a rich, fertile soccer bed when he arrived at Aquinas in Florissant. Many players were born into the soccer community by playing in the popular CYC leagues around town.

In the early years, Drake had the pick of the top players in North County. Only cross-town rival Rosary could do the same.

"Sometimes you have to get the most talented players to play as team players," Drake said. "And now we have more role players than ever before filling roles than I have had in the past."

The challenge now is building a team every year with one or two talented players. In years past, Drake could have three or four skilled players. With the competition increasing from powers such as Chaminade, CBC and DeSmet to attract the best players, the talent pool is not only more shallow, but increasingly limited.

"I think we can develop a player just as well as some of the more prestigious schools around like Incarnate Word and St. Louis U. High," he said. "A young player can develop quicker at Trinity because they are going to get exposure as a freshman and a sophomore.

"The talent level is as good now as it's ever been. What hasn't changed is how they are trained as a team. We play as well together as a team as do teams like CBC and DeSmet."

When Aquinas-Mercy and Rosary merged several years ago and Trinity High School was formed, Drake continued and his clubs continued to prosper. In five years, three boys teams have finished in second place and two girls teams have lost in the finals.

"I've been blessed with some talented kids and players," Drake said. "They made me a successful coach."