Pomperaug football coach Chuck Drury
Michael Drury has been named the next football coach at Southington High School, the Southington Citizen reported Wednesday. Drury will replace D.J. Hernandez, who coached one season before resigning for a position at Brown.
But that’s not all. A source close to the family says the 28-year old coach, who was previously serving as defensive coordinator for the Blue Knights, will bring his father, longtime Pomperaug coach Chuck Drury, with him.
Chuck Drury has coached at Pomperaug in two long stints beginning in 1974. His teams won three SWC championships since the league’s inception in 1996 and the Class MM state championship in 2004. Pomperaug also was the Class L runner-up in 2009. He retired as a teacher last year.
Reached Wednesday afternoon, Chuck Drury had no comment.
Mike Drury (in 2004)
Michael Drury was an all-state linebacker and wrestler at Bristol Central, where he graduated in 2001. He went on to become a four-year star and Division I-AA All-American at Marist University and graduated in 2005. He had been an assistant at Cromwell, Pomperaug and Oxford before taking the job as defensive coordinator under Hernandez. Drury coached the Knights to a 52-13 victory over East Hartford while Hernandez served a one-game suspension on Nov. 12.
Michael Drury is also an assistant wrestling coach and track coach at Bristol Eastern. He will accept a teaching job in special education.
From the press release out of Southington today:
“The search committee gave very careful consideration concerning the type of individual we want as head of the program,” said Athletic Director Eric Swallow. “We believe Coach Drury will provide consistency, stability and leadership to the Southington program as we build off the success of the 2010 season.”
“Mike has demonstrated that he is a skilled coach and an excellent teacher who not only cares about the development of young men as athletes but also concerned about their development as students and young adults,” said Southington High principal Dr. Martin Semmel.
Update (9:30 p.m.): Southington’s Eric Swallow told the Record-Journal of Meriden that Chuck Drury’s potential played no part in the hiring of young Michael. He also wouldn’t say for sure if Chuck Drury would be joining the staff.
From the article by Bryant Carpenter:
Drury – Mike Drury, that is – will be introduced at a press conference this afternoon at Southington High School. Whether Chuck Drury, whose Pomperaug teams have won three-time Southwest Conference championships and one state title on his watch, winds up in Southington blue and white will be determined as his son selects his staff.
“I know there’s been some conversation, but that hasn’t been finalized,” Southington athletic director Eric Swallow said Wednesday. “Like anything else, the names pop up; but that’s something that Mike, when he starts to put his staff together, that could be an option.
“The guy has tremendous background and has had great success,” Swallow added. “If he came over to Southington, he would be a tremendous quality on our staff.”
All the same, Swallow said a Drury package deal played no factor in the hiring decision. Mike Drury was the unanimous choice of a search committee that included high school administrators, community members, a current student-athlete and a few former Southington football players.
The Mike Drury picture makes me want to fist pump!!!! He definitely deserved his shot at head coach.
Will Steve Croce take over at Pomp? Should be interesting.
Last rumor I heard was Steve and his son Kellen were heading to Sacred Heart. With Drury out at Pomperaug, no chance they’re leaving.
SEE NAME
Great work though!
No disrespect to Mike Drury but how is it that John Murphy is passed over again. He is by far the most qualified coach with the best credentials.
I don’t know. I’m just seeing that now… must be something new WordPress has done. That’s annoying.
Fixed.
What a joke Southington is, maybe that’s why they don’t win. Coach Murphy has led Masuk to 7 state title games in 15 years and doesn’t get the job. Oh well plan on handing Masuk another title this year.
Do we know for a fact that John Murphy was going for the Southington job? I have no idea.
No doubt Murphy has great credentials, but he’s been at Masuk for gods sake. What’s the median household income there? Over $90,000? Its easy to win titles in richville. Masuk has all sorts of money to throw at the program for off-season camps along with parent involvement. When he wins a title at a Bassick or a Weaver then Ill be impressed.
John Murphy was indeed a finalist. As was former Bristol Eastern coach Paul Philippon.
I have read some real ignorant posts on SPB’s blog but Mike’s comment could be the most ignorant. Masuk does not throw all sorts of money at the program as evidenced by the highest pay to play rate in the state and lack of support from the school superintendent. If median household incomes were the deciding factor then Wilton, Ludlowe, Ridgefield, Weston, Barlow, etc. would be annually playing at Rentschler Field.
Masuk parents foot the bill, most likely. But they do have winter and summer passing leagues, 2 different weekend long overnight camps in the summer, out of state. Not the richest town in the state, but dedicated to winning at any cost. Does anyone win state titles at inner city schools, with limited resources ? Oh yeah, Jack Cochran does.
Murphy was best qualified for Southington position, that’s 2 times passed over. Must be some reason for it, he’s been very successfull at Masuk
When it comes to Murphy ti most likely is not about his coaching credentials which keeps these schools from hiring him. We all know he a very good football coach and I believe could win anywhere. It may have more to do with no other school being willing or even able to offer him the same deal he has ay Masuk when it comes to full time job. If memory serves me right he is not a teacher in the school and holds a full time position in the building. Not many schools these days can find a full time position for someone who is not a teacher. Just a thought.
I know Masuk’s program very well. Lets end a couple of rumors. Masuk sports are some of the least funded programs in the state. The players and coaches fund raise all year to make ends meet. People who know the situation know that Masuks administration abuses Murphy. He is a para professional in the building, that’s not a created job. Stop the lies people. Learn the truth.
SPB is correct. The finalists were Drury, Philippon and Murphy. Don’t assume that there is something wrong with these experienced, successful coaches when they aren’t hired. Unfortunately, schools need to publicly post open coaching positions even if they already have an inside candidate that they intend to hire. This was the case with Southington this year (I believe it was the case with Hernandez last year as well). The principal, who is new at Southington this year, was at Bristol Central previously. Drury is a teacher at BC (until the end of this school year) and he was hired by the current SHS principal. The players/parents also like Drury, as he did a decent job as the DC last year. The Southington administration, players and parents wanted Drury from the start – as a coach/teacher. They proceeded to load the ‘search committee’ with Drury supporters (supposedly, even a guy who coached him when he was a player at BC), just to ensure that they could come to this ‘unanimous’ decision. Drury also interviewed for the teaching position during this hiring process. Oh, and to make the deal even sweeter? Drury made it clear that his father would be coming with him if he was offered the job (this has been known for a while). Yes, it was indeed a package deal. I’m sure this made everyone in town feel much better, when they found out that (for the second year in a row) another young guy with no head coaching experience was hired to run this LL high school football program. The bottom-line, Philippon and Murphy never even had a shot.