Former Southeastern Conference DL/OL Kwési Drake enters his ninth season as defensive line coach and second as Jones' assistant head coach.
The Bobcats' defensive line has been one of the tops in the MACCC in his eight seasons, racking up over 325 tackles-for-loss, 100 sacks and boasted a Top 5 MACCC scoring defense the past three seasons.
Drake has coached 18 four-year players, with 14 of those signing with Division programs TCU, New Mexico, Alabama State, Central Arkansas, UTSA, Southern Miss, Northwestern State, Connecticut, ULM and Memphis.
TCU signee Kelten Mickell was named the 2024 MACCC South Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-MACCC for a second time and NJCAA All-Region 23.
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 Organized Team Activities (OTAs). He has also worked team summer camps at Texas, Georgia, Nicholls State, Southern Miss, South Carolina, Georgia State and Auburn among others.
In addition to his football duties at Jones, Drake is also in his second year as the Dean of Men.
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 full time 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 played 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 assistant defensive line coach for the Texas Longhorns.
Drake and his wife, Erica, have two sons, Kwési Chicoma and Kai Jaxson.
