Drake’s Secret Weapon

Graduate Manager Sam Hawley

(Wichita, KS) – College basketball fans are getting to know the Drake Bulldogs, coach Ben McCollum, all-American Bennett Stirtz and even Griff 2 the mascot. But few people know about Drake’s secret weapon.

Drake Director of Athletics Brian Hardin admitted to Valley Hoops Insider that ‘Sam Hawley actually runs the program’. Who is Sam Hawley? He is a graduate manager that McCollum brought with him from Northwest Missouri State.

As last Spring’s negotiations between Hardin and McCollum were getting finalized, McCollum inserted an unexpected caveat to Hardin. He wanted to know the ‘grad-assistant’ set up because he wanted Hawley to come with him.

Many have heard the story about guard Mitch Mascari having a job lined up and McCollum inviting him to join the band in Des Moines. I’m told Hawley had a teaching job waiting for him, and McCollum’s sales pitch also swayed Hawley’s career plans.

Hardin said half-jokingly that finding a place for Hawley was practically a ‘deal breaker’ for McCollum’s agreement to come to Des Moines.

Drake’s Trusted Secret Weapon

Hawley handles pregame meals, the towels, the backup scorebook and much, much more. You can find him at practice and pregame warmups rebounding for shooters, chasing down loose balls and encouraging players.

As Bennett Stirtz’s father Roger says, ‘he finds something that needs to be done and then does it.’

The elder Stirtz told us of the time Hawley was rebounding for Trevor Hudgins prior to a game. Northwest Missouri State’s all-time leading scorer (2,829 points) was warming up and Hawley tore a ligament in his knee.

Ever committed to the team’s success, Hawley never left the floor nor the game. He worked the scorebook, handed out towels and encouraged the Bearcats to success.

Stirtz says Hawley inventories the catered pregame meals and has often caught a mistake before it meant a disruption for any of the Drake players.

We know Missouri’s players are taller and quicker than Drake’s. But Mizzou may not have a secret weapon quite like Sam Hawley.

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