SHS Names Mike Drury New Football Head Coach

Football is a defensive-minded game and on Wednesday, Southington High School took a step towards repeating as the CCC divisional champions in hiring former defensive coordinator Mike Drury as the new head coach.

Drury, who helped lead Southington to an 8-2 record while working alongside D.J. Hernandez, was selecting following interviews with several well-qualified candidates but stood out thanks to his experience and familiarity with the school and team said Southington High School Athletic Director Eric Swallow.

Hernandez resigned in late 2010 to take the quarterback coaching job at Brown University.

“We believe Coach Drury will provide consistency, stability and leadership to the Southington program as we build off the success of the 2010 season,” Swallow said in a press release.

Drury came to Southington High School as the defensive coordinator in 2010, bringing along a resume that included coaching experience at Oxford High School, Pomperaug High School and Cromwell High School.

Drury, who was hired earlier this year as a special education teacher and will begin full-time work at Southington High School in August, already has a strong relationship with students, said Southington high School Principal Martin Semmel.

He is a graduate of Marist College, where he was captain of the football team and an All-American.

“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,” Semmel said.

Drury was not immediately available for comment but will be introduced during a press conference Thursday at Southington High School.