James Drewry
Booneville High School
Impact Statement
Over his 45 year career, Drewry lead 3 teams to State Titles and finished with a 346-158-5 record. He lead his teams both on and off the field to success.
Biography
Drewry has won three state championships in two tours of duty at Booneville during a coaching career that has spanned 43 seasons. Booneville gave Drewry his first head coaching position in 1965 and he coached the Blue Devils for 14 seasons before moving on to Kossuth High. He also coached at Brandon High and Tishomingo High before returning to Booneville in 1990, winning the first of three state championships that season. His teams added back-to-back state crowns in 1999 and 2000 and have made seven trips to the state title game.
With a career record of 327-151-5, including a 7-5 mark and a second-round state playoff appearance this year, Drewry is Mississippi’s all-time leading winner. Elected to the Mississippi Coaches Hall of Fame in 1992, Drewry will be inducted into the National Federation of State High School Associations Hall of Fame this summer. He was selected Mississippi’s “Coach of the Three-Quarter Century” honoree by Coach and Athletic Director magazine in 2007. Drewry, who turns 77 this month, plans to return to the Blue Devils sideline next fall for a 44th season.
And indeed Drewry did return for his 44th season after being honored in 2007. Drewry continued to coach until 2009 when he retired.
He finished with a career record of 346-158-5 after 45 years. He was honored s the 2009 recipient of The American Football Coaches Foundation’s Power of Influence Award. This award is an honor given to a deserving high school football coach for his effect on his players, school and community.
Drewry passed away at the age of 86 in April of 2018.
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