Class of 2004
Between 1973 and 1990, Drake won two state championships in 1979 and 1990 and was state runner-up three times in the 1980's, made the final four twice and had two teams in state's Elite Eight.
His teams won eight Limestone County championships with nine state tournament appearances including eight in a row from 1983-1990.
"I don't know of anyone who is more deserving to go into the Hall of Fame that Jimmy Drake," said Sonny Turner, who as a sports reporter has covered Drake-coach teams a number of years including his state championship teams. "He has always been a coach who has showed class and you could tell it in the teams he coached. He is one of the best to ever coach the game in this county."
During his coaching career that ended in 2002 when he retired as the head coach at Athens High School, Drake's teams had 13, 20-win seasons including 10 straight.
In the 21 years he coached, he compiled an overall 464-185 record with an overall .715 won-loss record. He's had 25 players to play at the college level.
Drake earned two state "Coach of the Year" honors in his career and was named Coach of the Year in this region four times including a "Coach ofthe Decade" award and the head coach of two Teams of the Decade in the 1950's as a player and the 1970's as a coach.