Jonathan Drach, left, led Wilkes football to a 32-20 record in six seasons as head coach.
Wilkes University Athletics
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Wilkes will be looking for a new football coach heading into the program’s second season as a member of the Landmark Conference.
Jonathan Drach stepped down as the coach of the Colonels on Friday to take the head job at Union College in New York.
Associate head coach David Biever will serve as interim coach while the school searches for the 10th head coach in program history.
“We want to thank Jon for everything he has done for the Wilkes football program over his six years as our head coach,” athletic director Scott Musa said through the school. “Jon led one of the biggest turnarounds in Division III when he took over, instilling a detail-oriented work ethic that led to success both on the field and in the classroom.
“We want to wish Jon and the entire Drach family well as they start the next chapter of their lives at Union.”
Wilkes had struggled in the immediate departure of successful long-time coach Frank Sheptock, as the Colonels were winless in 2017, the year before Drach took over. The Colonels went 32-20 in six seasons under Drach, finishing 5-6 in 2023, highlighted by a 35-17 win over Bridgewater in the Chesapeake Bowl Challenge to end the campaign.
Drach’s success drew the attention of other programs, and Union is coming off of a 10-2 season and a win in the NCAA Division III tournament. Drach’s predecessor, Jon Poppe, parlayed that effort into a Division I job as head coach at FCS Columbia.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Wilkes 81, Hamline 76
The Colonels picked up their second victory at the Florida Sunshine Shootout to improve to 10-1 on the season.
Wilkes led 63-60 with just over five minutes to play before closing out the game.
Cayden Merrifield scored 23 and Trent Fisher added 20 in the win.
CCNY 80, Misericordia 74
Kevin Lazdowsky led the Cougars with 19 points and five assists and Derek Smith added 11 points and nine rebounds in a non-conference loss on the road.
Smith and Joseph Baldachino both made three pointers as the Cougars opened the game on an 8-0 run.
CCNY rallied to take a 34-26 halftime lead. The Beavers maintained a double digit for much of the second half and held off a late rally.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Misericordia 62, Hunter 55
Alyssa Bondi scored a team-high 22 points and Jocelyn Grosch added a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds to earn a win at the Hoops for Hounds Tournament at Lycoming.
Misericordia broke a 46-46 tie after three quarters by opening the fourth on an 8-0 run.
Skylar Bianchi had eight points and eight rebounds while Skylar Dowling had nine assists.
Stevenson 82, King’s 36
The host Mustangs shook off an early deficit and outscored the Monarchs 42-16 after halftime for the win.
Brenna Costello had 14 points, five rebounds and a block to lead King’s. Gianna Dickson had 10 points, five rebounds and three steals.