Kwési Drake enters his eighth season as the Bobcats' defensive line coach and first as Jones' assistant head coach.
The Bobcats' defensive line has been one of the tops in the MACCC in his seven seasons, racking up over 300 tackles-for-loss and nearly 100 sacks.
TCU signee Kelten Mickell was named the MACCC South's Defensive Player of the Year last year, First Team All-MACCC for a second time and NJCAA All-Region 23.
Jones has boasted the MACCC's No. 4 scoring defense the past two seasons and in the NJCAA Top 15 in rushing yards per game allowed.
Drake has coached 15 four-year players, including a dozen Division I signees in Mickell (TCU), Jalen McIver (New Mexico), Javeon Jones (UCA), Zach Causey (UTSA), Jordyn Mahaffey (USM), Brodarius Lewis (USM), Jalen Williams (USM), DaShawn Crawford (USM), Marquez Bembry (UConn), Edward Haralson (Louisiana-Monroe), Devonte Toles (North Alabama) and Wardalis Ducksworth (Memphis).
Drake was chosen for a Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellow in the summer of 2024 with the Los Angeles Rams, spending two weeks with the team during OTAs.
The Marrero, Louisiana, native was in law enforcement for 16 years prior to Jones. He was a detective and was in charge of a unit that had 10 investigators and two evidence technicians.
He had numerous roles in law enforcement, including undercover work, homicide, robbery, federal task forces, Secret Service teams and U.S. Marshal teams. He retired from the Lee County (Alabama) Sheriff’s Office in the spring of 2018 and came to Jones on a fulltime basis.
He began part-time coaching in a semi-pro league in Opelika, Alabama, for three years with the East Alabama Predators and the Opelika Chiefs. He also coached at Beauregard High School from 2014-17, helping them to a state championship in 2016.
Drake also volunteered for football camps at Georgia State University during that time and connected with Jones.
A former SEC offensive and defensive lineman, Drake spent four seasons at Auburn where he helped the Tigers to Citrus Bowl and Peach Bowl appearances under head coach Tommy Tuberville.
Drake’s brother, Kwahn, has career coaching stops at Colorado, Eastern Illinois, Tulane, Memphis and Kansas and is currently the defensive line coach for the USFL's Houston Gamblers.
Drake and his wife, Erica, have two sons, Kwési Chicoma and Kai Jaxson.
