Drew Noles
Drew Chadrick Noles was born on September 4, 1973, in Boaz to Gary and Sheila Noles. Gary sold Sunbeam Bread and Golden Flake snacks, and Sheila worked in the Corley Elementary School cafeteria and as a preschool teacher at First Baptist Church, Boaz. Drew has an older sister Shelly Massey and a younger brother Jason Noles. Shelly works at MDA Professional Group. Jason is a P.E. teacher at Boaz Elementary School and has served as an assistant coach in numerous sports at Boaz High.
Drew participated in youth baseball and basketball leagues through the Boaz Recreation Center. As a student at Boaz High School, he lettered in baseball, basketball, and football. He was an All-Marshall County and All-Area performer during his junior and senior years in both football and baseball. He missed a good portion of his senior year due to injury but still led the team with three interceptions from his safety position. Drew graduated from B.H.S. in 1991.
He signed a scholarship to play baseball at Snead State under Red Calvert and 2010 Hall of Fame inductee Gerry Ledbetter. While a student at Snead, Drew began coaching football and basketball at Boaz Middle School. After transferring to Jacksonville State University, Drew continued coaching at Boaz, adding baseball to his résumé as well. During his senior year at Jax State, Drew was given the B.H.S. defensive coordinator position under Head Coach Randy Lill. Drew graduated from J.S.U. in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education.
In the fall of 1995, Drew got a job teaching P.E. at Asbury Junior High. While at Asbury, he was an assistant football and basketball coach at Boaz. After one year at Asbury, he moved to Corley Elementary and continued coaching football, basketball, and baseball at Boaz Middle and Boaz High. In 2000, he was named the 19th head football coach at his alma mater. For the next 13 years, Coach Noles and the Pirates would enjoy great success, including an unprecedented seven wins in a row over Albertville. His 2002 and 2003 teams won 10 and 11 games, respectively, and both reached the quarterfinal round of the Class 4A state playoffs. Under his leadership, Boaz High School had numerous All-Marshall County, All-Region, and All-State performers. By the time his Boaz tenure ended, Drew was the all-time winningest coach in B.H.S. history with an 80-63 record, and he led the Pirates to 9 playoff appearances. He also continued to coach basketball and baseball, mentoring pitchers like fellow 2024 inductee Blake Martin.
After the 2012 season, Coach Noles was hired as the head football coach and athletic director at Etowah High School. His six years with the Blue Devils were ultra-successful. He compiled a 52-19 record and had a winning season every year. His 2017 and 2018 teams won a combined 23 games, both falling in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state playoffs. His 2018 team scored 410 points while holding opponents to just 113 points on the year. Drew also served as head tennis coach at E.H.S. for four years, leading the women’s team to the A.H.S.A.A. State Tournament on two occasions.
In 2019, Drew was named the head football coach and athletic director at Westbrook Christian School in Rainbow City. His 2020 team notched another double digit-win season, winning 10 games. Two of his Warrior teams made the playoffs, both making it to the second round. He stayed at Westbrook four years and had a 27-17 record as head coach. He also was a varsity assistant basketball coach for three years and head tennis coach for one year. His women’s team qualified for the state tournament. His last two years at Westbrook, Drew served the school as assistant principal. Coach Noles retired from teaching and coaching in 2023, boasting a 159-99 record as a varsity head football coach with 17 playoff appearances and five 10-win seasons in 23 years.
Drew has accumulated many honors in his career. He was Region Coach of the Year five times, Marshall County Coach of the Year six times, was selected to coach in the North/South All-Star Game in 2003 and was chosen to represent the state of Alabama at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, for USA Football.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes has been important to Drew during his career. The FCA Bowl started by Coach Noles in Boaz in 2008 became nationally recognized. He has been an FCA Huddle Leader for 23 years. Additionally, he has spent 25 years in youth ministry at Concord Baptist Church in Painter, First Baptist Church in Attalla, and currently at Life Church of Boaz. He is also now employed as an Ambassador for FCA and ministers to students in schools in Marshall County and surrounding areas. He was named the Attalla Citizen of the Year in 2015.
On June 3, 1995, Drew married the former Michele Colvin of Geraldine. Michele teaches first grade at Boaz Elementary School. The couple have two sons. Older son Andy is a staff auditor for the U.S. Army Audit Agency. He is married to the former Brileigh Jones of Attalla. Younger son Will is a student at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, where he plays on the Chargers’ baseball team.