Akron Chapter IMA Event

Tangier Restaurant

November 18, 2009

CAREER WORKSHOP NIGHT

Technical Session

 J. DRU JOYCE II

Head Coach, St. Vincent – St. Mary Boys Basketball Team and

Founder & Executive Director of the Northeast Ohio Basketball Association 

“Team Building” 

Dru Joyce II is entering his 9^th season as Head Coach of the St. Vincent – St. Mary Boys Basketball team.  The 2003 St. Vincent – St. Mary’s team was the USA Today National Champion and Dru was named the National Coach of the Year.  His 2009 team won the Division II Ohio state championship.  His career record is 159 – 41, which includes 6 District championships, 4 Regional championships, and 2 State championships. 

Dru was born and raised in East Liverpool OH.  He is a graduate of East Liverpool High School and Ohio University, with a degree in Business Administration.  Dru moved his family to Akron in 1984 with his former employer ConAgra Foods.  In 2004, Dru left ConAgra Foods after 26 years of faithful service and varying degrees of responsibility. 

Since leaving the corporate world, Dru has built a business around the sport of basketball.  His King James Shooting Stars Classic Tournament, in its third year, is one of the largest and most respected Travel Team Tournaments in America.  He is the Founder and Executive Director of the Northeast Ohio Basketball Association. 

Dru and his wife Carolyn have been married for 31 years and are the parents of four and grandparents of two.  Dru is a member of the House of the Lord and currently serves as a Trustee.

In October, we will be able to see Coach Dru in the documentary movie “More Than a Game”, which is being released nationally at select theaters.  The documentary tells the story of five talented young basketball players from Akron OH in a remarkable true-life coming of age story about uncommon friendship in the face of all too common adversities.  The film features the “Fab Five” - LeBron James, Dru Joyce III, Romeo Travis, Sian Cotton and Willie McGee - and Coach Dru Joyce II.  A book about the 2003 St. Vincent – St. Mary team, called “Shooting Stars”, will be released in September.