RALEIGH, NC -- William Peace University Athletics is excited to announce Lori Drake as the Head Women's Basketball Coach.

Most recently, Drake served as the Assistant Women's Basketball Coach for semi-pro team Jacksonville Force. Prior to this, she was the Head Women's Basketball Coach at Cape Fear Community College from 2011 to 2021 where she posted a 153-53 overall record, building the inaugural team in 2012-2013. She had numerous All-Region players during her time with Cape Fear.

Drake stated, "I am beyond excited and honored to be the next head women's basketball coach at William Peace University. I would like to thank Claude Shields, Danielle O'Leary and the WPU family for giving me the opportunity to produce growth within the program and athletics as a whole. I look forward to implementing my values and approach to the game as the new head women's basketball coach at WPU. I plan to take my passion and pride for the game and allow this program to blossom, as well as molding my young players into successful and powerful women. This truly is a dream come true and I am ready to help my young woman excel on and off the court. I am ready to get started." 

Drake holds a Masers of Science in Nutrition from JWU and a Bacherlor of Arts from UNCW. Interim Athletic Director Claude Shields stated, "We are thrilled to have Lori join the WPU family. She is a proven program builder who invests in the lives of young women both on and off the court. It is an exciting day for WPU women's basketball!"