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)
Justin
Jackson, a native of
Under
Jackson's watchful eye in his first year as a full-time assistant, the Saints enjoyed
a 20-win season that included a school-record 10 conference victories and a
semifinal berth in the Midwest Collegiate Conference Tournament.
In
his two years with the Saints after transferring from ILCC, he started 50 of
the team's 56 games while serving as captain during his senior campaign. He was
named Honorable Mention All-MCC following his senior year in which he averaged
9.1 points per game and 6.1 rebounds (seventh in MCC) per contest.
Jackson
wrapped up his playing career under former Ashford Head Coach Andy Eberhart and
was a graduate of Madison East High School. He has coached an AAU team, Badger
Sporting Goods, in Madison, Wis., over the past few summers before returning to
his alma mater.
Jackson graduated in December of 2008 from Ashford with his bachelor's degree in Business Administration. He resides in Clinton and is currently working on his Master's Degree at Ashford in Organizational Management.
The Jackson File
- Head Basketball
Coach - AAU's Badger Sporting Goods (2004-07)
- Student
Assistant Coach -
- Assistant Men's
Basketball Coach -
Pickens is returning to his stomping grounds and alma mater at Ashford, joining the men's basketball staff as a graduate assistant coach in time for the upcoming season in mid-August.
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-Present)
Marshall is in his first season contributing to the development of the Ashford men's basketball program, serving Head Coach Oliver Drake in a volunteer capacity.
Marshall assists the team in all aspects of game preparation and brings a wealth of knowledge from a number of different schools to the table.
Marshall currently resides in Maquoketa with his wife, Ashley. He graduated from the University of Dubuque in 2008 with his degree in Business Administration with a minor in coaching.
The Marshall File
- Student Assistant Men's Basketball Coach - University of Dubuque (2005-08)
- Assistant Men's Basketball Coach - Hartwick College (2008-10)
- Volunteer Assistant Men's Basketball Coach - Ashford University (2010-Present)
