St. Michael Hires English Teacher, J.V. Soccer Coach

St. Michael Catholic High School is pleased to announce it has hired Mr. Will Justice Drake to be its first English teacher and J.V. soccer coach. Mr. Drake is finishing out a Master’s degree in English at North Carolina State University, where he teaches undergrads, and he completed his undergraduate degree in English at the University of Mobile. Growing up in north Alabama, Drake was an accomplished high school soccer player, foregoing athletic scholarship offers in favor of those based on academic merit.

“I liked Mr. Drake right off the bat" St. Michael principal, Faustin Weber, said. "He’s a young, living example of the vision we have for our students to become “renaissance” young men and women. His writing, diction and love for poetry speak of scholarship, while his high school soccer career, including being part of the North-South all-star game in his senior year, speak of athletic success and discipline. I was also impressed by the depth of his faith, in that he has become Catholic quite recently, the result of being influenced by certain writers and professors he’s studied under, evidencing a reflective journey that we cradle Catholics often take for granted. He’ll be a great fit at St. Michael, and I think our students will like him.”

Mr. Drake was elated to be hired: “I regard this as an incredible opportunity to lead St. Michael in two of my passions, English and Soccer. Principal Weber and I have been talking about the writing program, and I’m excited to pass on my love for that to my students. Regarding soccer, there’s great talent in Baldwin County, so we want to be competitive right from the start at the JV level, and to help prepare our players to compete for state championships when we expand to varsity. I believe our students will change the world one day, and I am excited to be part of it. “

Drake became Catholic this Easter, at Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Raleigh, N.C. He and Mallory, his wife of 18 months, will be moving to Baldwin County this summer.