Big news for Lakota East girls basketball fans—Nikki Drew is back in the head coach's chair!
The school made the announcement on Monday, May 4, welcoming the Xavier Athletics Hall-of-Famer (Class of 2015) back to the program she led from 2009 to 2013. During that four-year run, Drew compiled a solid 55-40 record, guiding the Thunderhawks to a district finals appearance in 2010 and a memorable trip to the Division I regional championship game in 2011.
Drew's coaching journey started well before Lakota East. She spent five seasons as the head coach at Colerain before joining Lakota East as an assistant during the 2008-2009 season. Her deep roots in Cincinnati basketball extend to her playing days as well—she starred at Mercy High School before becoming a standout point guard at Xavier University.
As a Musketeer (then known as Nikki Kremer), Drew was a two-time all-conference selection and made national headlines in 1999 when she averaged 8.9 assists per game, ranking No. 2 in the country and setting a single-season school record. She helped lead Xavier to an NCAA Tournament berth her senior year and still ranks No. 2 in program history with 545 career assists. Her legacy also earned her a spot in the Greater Cincinnati Basketball Hall of Fame.
Drew takes over for Dan Wallace, who stepped down in April to become assistant athletic director at Mercy McAuley. The Thunderhawks finished 10-13 last season and will look to turn things around under their familiar, proven leader.
Welcome home, Coach Drew!