Drake takes the lead for MHS girls basketball team
Marion High School’s next girls basketball head coach will be a familiar face: Ronikka Drake, a member of the MHS Class of 2008, who was a standout on the team and in the state during her time at the high school, and who went on to success on the national stage, playing guard for the D1 program at Northwestern University in Louisiana.
At its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 9, the Marion Community Schools Board of School Trustees approved the coaching hire.
“Ronikka Drake is a slam dunk choice to become the new head coach of the Marion Lady Giants basketball program,” MHS Athletic Director Steve Moritz said. “She brings a multitude of positives to the program, but to me, the No. 1 positive is she bleeds purple and gold. Drake is a Marion Giant through and through. I have complete confidence that with her drive and determination she will lead the Marion girls basketball program back to the success we have enjoyed in the past.”
Drake previously served as coach for the MHS freshman boys basketball team and is a student support specialist at the school.
“I am excited and looking forward to leading the Lady Giants program into the future,” she said. “I want to reestablish the honor and tradition of the Marion girls basketball program. Next year my focus will be increasing the participation rate amongst our female student athletes, fostering a winning culture, and being a mentor and a coach to our student athletes on and off the court.”
Drake earned several varsity letters at MHS, including all four years in basketball, track, and volleyball, and two years in gymnastics. She was No. 1 in the state for points per game in girls basketball in her senior year, and was top in the North Central Conference for free throws, 3-pointers, and field goals made, as well as steals per game. She scored more than 1,200 points during her MHS career and is still ranked in the top 10 in scoring. She was named MVP in both basketball and volleyball, and was named All-Academic First Team, All-County First Team, and All-Division First Team. She also earned Defensive Player of the Year recognition.
She graduated from MHS with a 3.9 GPA and an Academic Honors Diploma and was a member of National Honor Society.
After high school, she overcame an ACL injury to play first for Lincoln Trail College in Illinois, where she was named Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Region First Team and All-Conference first team. She then moved to the Division 1 program at Northwestern University (Louisiana), where she was a starting guard.
She earned an Associate’s Degree from Lincoln Trail College, and a Bachelor’s Degree from Northwestern University.
Her coaching position begins immediately, and she will be meeting with players and parents. In the coming days she will be formalizing her coaching team and communicating her plans for summer programming and more.
