2011-12 Men's Basketball Coaches
Oliver Drake - Head Coach - 2nd Season
In
his first season at the helm, Drake had the Ashford University
basketball program explode onto the scene of the Midwest Collegiate
Conference and crash the NAIA National Championships for just second
time in school history.
Picked to finish just sixth in the conference 2010-11 preseason poll after a vote by the league's coaches, Drake hushed all naysayers and doubters by capturing the MCC Tournament championship and punched Ashford's ticket into the national tournament with an automatic bid.
With the Saints' historic ascent, Ashford set a single-season win records in both conference play (11) and overall games (23) under Drake's direction. His inside-out philosophy and emphasis on defensive intensity translated into victories over five teams that were ranked in the up-to-date edition of the NAIA Div. II Top-25 Coaches Poll at the time.
Drake's 2010-11 squad hounded the opposition into an MCC-best 65.29 points per game average, ranking 15th among all programs nationally. The Saints also ranked first in the country in total rebound defense (28.73) while rating in the top 50 nationally in a total of 12 categories, including assist-to-turnover ratio (37th, 0.987), total three-point field goals made (33rd, 226) and free-throw percentage (25th, 71.8%), among many others.
Ashford was also at the top of the conference statistical ratings in free throw percentage, field goal percentage and three-point field goal percentage.
Drake kept the Saints on a steady course and navigated his way through the gauntlet that represents the loaded conference schedule. A total of three student-athletes found their way onto the All-MCC Team and the Saints had reached a No. 23 NAIA national ranking by just midseason.
Originally a native of Neillsville, Wis., Drake kept his Midwestern roots close to home when he accepted head coaching responsibilities of the Ashford University men's basketball program beginning in April of 2010.
Drake arrived at Ashford after a highly successful six-year tenure at Div. III Wartburg College in Waverly where helped the Knights to a pair of back-to-back Iowa Conference Championships (2004-05, 2005-06).
Drake was also an assistant coach at other locations within the Badger State, working at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Eau Claire Memorial High School. He was also one of the youngest head boys basketball coaches in state history when he was at the helm of Cadott High School as an undergraduate for two years.
Drake has been actively involved in basketball camps around the nation including Five Star, Morgan Wooten, Northwestern University (Ill.), University of Wisconsin, Snow Valley Basketball School, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stevens Point, South Dakota, Hoosier Basketball School and North Dakota State University.
A graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Drake obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology-Physical Education K-12 before achieving his Master's Degree of Arts from Viterbo University in Education.
Drake is married to his wife, Kristen, and together they have a son, Sebastian. Drake and his family currently reside in Clinton.
The Saints Under Drake (2010-Present)
*Advanced to the NAIA Div. II Basketball Championship
%Midwest Collegiate Conference Tournament Champion
Picked to finish just sixth in the conference 2010-11 preseason poll after a vote by the league's coaches, Drake hushed all naysayers and doubters by capturing the MCC Tournament championship and punched Ashford's ticket into the national tournament with an automatic bid.
With the Saints' historic ascent, Ashford set a single-season win records in both conference play (11) and overall games (23) under Drake's direction. His inside-out philosophy and emphasis on defensive intensity translated into victories over five teams that were ranked in the up-to-date edition of the NAIA Div. II Top-25 Coaches Poll at the time.
Drake's 2010-11 squad hounded the opposition into an MCC-best 65.29 points per game average, ranking 15th among all programs nationally. The Saints also ranked first in the country in total rebound defense (28.73) while rating in the top 50 nationally in a total of 12 categories, including assist-to-turnover ratio (37th, 0.987), total three-point field goals made (33rd, 226) and free-throw percentage (25th, 71.8%), among many others.
Ashford was also at the top of the conference statistical ratings in free throw percentage, field goal percentage and three-point field goal percentage.
Drake kept the Saints on a steady course and navigated his way through the gauntlet that represents the loaded conference schedule. A total of three student-athletes found their way onto the All-MCC Team and the Saints had reached a No. 23 NAIA national ranking by just midseason.
Originally a native of Neillsville, Wis., Drake kept his Midwestern roots close to home when he accepted head coaching responsibilities of the Ashford University men's basketball program beginning in April of 2010.
Drake arrived at Ashford after a highly successful six-year tenure at Div. III Wartburg College in Waverly where helped the Knights to a pair of back-to-back Iowa Conference Championships (2004-05, 2005-06).
Drake was also an assistant coach at other locations within the Badger State, working at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Eau Claire Memorial High School. He was also one of the youngest head boys basketball coaches in state history when he was at the helm of Cadott High School as an undergraduate for two years.
Drake has been actively involved in basketball camps around the nation including Five Star, Morgan Wooten, Northwestern University (Ill.), University of Wisconsin, Snow Valley Basketball School, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stevens Point, South Dakota, Hoosier Basketball School and North Dakota State University.
A graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Drake obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology-Physical Education K-12 before achieving his Master's Degree of Arts from Viterbo University in Education.
Drake is married to his wife, Kristen, and together they have a son, Sebastian. Drake and his family currently reside in Clinton.
The Saints Under Drake (2010-Present)
| Year | W-L | MCC | Pct. | MCC Finish | MCC Tournament Finish |
| 2010-11*% | 23-11 | 11-5 | .676 | 3rd | 1st |
| Totals | 23-11 | 11-5 | .676 |
*Advanced to the NAIA Div. II Basketball Championship
%Midwest Collegiate Conference Tournament Champion
The Drake File
- Head Sophomore and Assistant Varsity Boys Basketball Coach - Eau Claire Memorial High School (Wis.) (2000-01)
- Head Boys Basketball Coach - Cadott High School (2001-03)
- Assistant Men's Basketball Coach - University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (2003-04)
- Assistant Men's Basketball Coach - Wartburg College (2004-10)
- Head Men's Basketball Coach - Ashford University (2010-Present)
Josh Pickens - Assistant Coach - 1st Season
Pickens is entering his first year as an assistant head coach as a member of the Saints' accomplished coaching staff. In the past, he served as a graduate assistant for the 2010-11 season. He helped the team to a Midwest Collegiate Conference Tournament title and the program's second-ever appearance in the NAIA National Championships in 2010-11.
Pickens was a long-range gunner as a guard for the Saints after transferring from Rock Valley College in Rockford, Ill. He hit several memorable buzzer-beating shots during his two-year tenure in purple and gold and was voted the Saints' team MVP during his senior campaign.
Pickens ranked third in the Midwest Collegiate Conference in three-point field goals made as a senior, connecting on 70, while earning honorable mention all-league accolades. He averaged over 12 points per game in his final year and tied for the team lead in assists.
While at Rock Valley, Pickens was a two-time First Team All-Conference selection. He completed his prep career at Jefferson High School.
Last season, Pickens was the Assistant Varsity Boys Basketball Coach at Rock Falls High School. He graduated in Dec. of 2009 with his Bachelor of Social Science degree and is beginning classes to obtain his Master's Degree in Education and Public Policy.
Pickens currently resides in Clinton.
The Pickens File
- Assistant Varsity Boys Basketball Coach - Rock Falls High School (2009-10)
- Student Assistant Men's Basketball Coach - Ashford University (2009-10)
-
Graduate Assistant Men's Basketball coach - Ashford University (2010-2011)
-
Assistant Men's Basketball Coach - Ashford University (2011-Present)
Pat Cassidy - Graduate Assistant Coach - 1st Season
Pat Cassidy joined the Ashford University men's basketball staff as a graduate assistant in September of 2011. He will be extensively assisting Coach Drake with the day-to-day operation of the men's basketball program.Cassidy comes to Ashford by way of Bemidji State University, an NCAA Division II institution located in Bemidji, Minn., where he appeared in 106 games, starting 76, during his four-year career. During that time, Cassidy scored 842 points and grabbed 427 rebounds while shooting 49.7% (317-638) from the floor. He posted his career high of 26 points in a four overtime loss to Minnesota Duluth during his junior season and grabbed a career-best 13 rebounds against UM, Crookston as a sophomore.
Prior to his time as a Beaver, Cassidy was a three-year starter for St. Bernard's High School in St. Paul, Minn. where he was earned All-Tri Metro Conference and All-State Honorable Mention honors following his senior year. In addition, he was a four-year letterwinner in football while earning two letters in track and field.
Pat is a 2011 graduate of Bemidji State University where he received a Bachelor's of Art degree in Sports Management. He is currently working on a Master's degree in Organizational Management from Ashford University and resides in Clinton.
Scott Maddasion - Student Assistant - 1st Season
