A Coach You’ve Probably Never Heard of: Mike Drass

The motto of Wesley College, a small Division III school with an enrollment of 1,500 undergraduates, is ‘Great Things Await.’ That is certainly true when it comes to the Wesley football program. Head Coach Mike Drass has built the Wolverines into a consistent winner.

Now in his 19th season at the Dover, Delaware school, Drass has an overall record of 155-45-1. Wesley completed their second straight undefeated regular season last fall, losing to eventual National Champion Wisconsin-Whitewater in the national D-III semifinals. During his tenure, Wesley has had five seasons of at least 10 wins and their 70 victories over the past six years ranks third among all D-III programs. Additionally, the Wolverines have been to at least the second round of the D-III playoffs for six straight years.

An offensive lineman at Mansfield University, Drass started his coaching career as a high school coach in Pennsylvania. He then went back to his alma mater as an assistant coach and joined the Wesley program in 1989 as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. Then, after three years as the defensive coordinator, Drass was promoted to head coach in March, 1993. He has spearheaded the Wolverines defense since 1989 and last fall the Wolverines finished #1 in the nation in overall defense. In the last 16 seasons, his defense has been in the top 25 a total of 11 times.

Drass also serves as the Executive Director of Athletics for Wesley. His number one priority is stressing to his players the importance of a student-athlete’s education. “Wesley is about getting a cap and gown, not a helmet and shoulder pads. The classroom and the playing field are tied together and you cannot have success in one without the other.”