Coach Drinkwine enters his fourth season at the helm of the Eagle program in 2020-21 after three seasons on the Eagle staff as an assistant coach to John Van Dyke and brings over 26 years of coaching experience spanning the high school to the NCAA Division 1 collegiate levels.
Drinkwine has guided the team to 28 wins and in 2019 took the Eagles to the conference semifinals after a big road win at No. 6 Oregon Tech.
Drinkwine has experience as both an assistant and head coach at the collegiate level and has familiarity with the Cascade Conference serving as head men’s basketball coach at the Evergreen State College in Olympia from 2007 to 2010, guiding the Geoducks to two trips to the NAIA Division II National championships and his teams were ranked in the NAIA national poll top 25 three consecutive seasons.
"I would just like to thank God, Northwest University, the Athletic Department, and the current men's basketball team, for supporting me and giving me this incredible opportunity," commented Coach Drinkwine. "It is going to be a fun journey. Northwest University is an outstanding school to be part of and I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity to join the Eagle family in this capacity."
Drinkwine continued, "The program standards were set and carried out by Coach Van Dyke, year in and year out. He laid the ground work and pathway for success. It is our hope moving forward we can carry out many of the same values. If we do, men's basketball will continue to grow and have success, in the conference and at the national level."
Drinkwine’s coaching career began at Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma (1993-2001) where he guided the Thunderbirds to five district tournament appearances and two trips to the WIAA state tournament. He then went on to serve as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Boise State, Division III Pacific Lutheran, Division II St. Martin’s, Pierce College and Division II Simon Fraser in B.C.
His responsibilities during his coaching career included consulting, strength and conditioning, recruiting, individual player skill development, compliance, scouting and game management.
Said McIntosh about Drinkwine: "Jeff has a deep understanding for the game of basketball and has had extensive coaching experience that will help him as he takes over the program. He definitely has a love for the game, but I think most importantly, he cares about the players and helping them find success on and off the court. I'm excited to see Jeff takes the basketball program forward."
While serving as assistant coach and interim head basketball coach (2006—07) at Pierce College in Lakewood, Wash., Drinkwine’s team finished first in the NWAACC west region with a 21-9 record and placed third in the annual NWAACC tournament. He also served as associate head coach at Pierce in the 2013-14 season helping guide the team to a 23-7 record and second place in the NWAACC tournament. He has a 64-31 coaching record as a head coach at Pierce and Evergreen.
Coach Drinkwine holds a Masters in Education from North Central University and earned his B.A. at Eastern Oregon University. He has high school teaching experience in Physical Education/Health, Sophomore Literature, and Special Education. Jeff is married and he and his wife, Diane, have a daughter, Alyssa and son, Connor.
Jeff Drinkwine at NU
| Year |
Overall W-L |
Conference W-L |
Comment |
| 2020-21 |
4-3 |
0-0 |
Covid-19 season |
| 2019-20 |
18-12 |
13-7 |
Wins vs. No. 1 team in November |
| 2018-19 |
15-17 |
6-12 |
Defeated No. 6 Oregon Tech to reach Conference Semifinals |
| 2017-18 |
13-18 |
7-13 |
|
| NU Career |
50-50 |
26-32 |
Made Conference Tournament all three seasons |
Jeff Drinkwine Career
| Year |
Overall W-L |
College |
| 2009-10 |
19-11 |
Evergreen State |
| 2008-09 |
20-12 |
Evergreen State |
| 2007-08 |
21-8 |
Evergreen State |
| TESC Total |
60-31 |
|
| Career |
110-81 |
|
