PROVO — Craig Drury is like an onion — he's got layers.
Drury, winner of eight state championships, is the most decorated boys basketball coach in Utah history. Under his direction, Provo High has soared to 498 victories across 27 seasons.
Prowling the sidelines during games, Drury's intense demeanor commands respect. But away from the court and out of the public spotlight, things like friendship, fatherhood and handiness define a mellower Drury.
Craig and Stew
Little did anybody know back then, but a pair of young men from Provo High's graduating class of 1970 would go on to become two of the best hoops coaches Utah has ever seen.
Craig Drury and Stew Morrill played basketball and football together at Provo. Morrill was the best man when Drury wed his high school sweetheart, Robin.
"We went all through high school playing on teams together," Morrill recalls. "We became awfully good friends and have been ever since."
In parallel coaching universes — Drury at the prep level and Morrill in the college ranks — the pair has uncannily mirrored each other in achievements. Drury barely missed winning his 500th game this season, but Utah State coach Morrill notched career victory 500 on Jan. 23. While Drury has won eight state titles, Morrill's teams have won conference regular-season or tournament championships nine times.
"It's kind of funny how that all happened," Morrill said. "I don't think either of us knew for sure we were going to be basketball coaches. It's kind of unique that we were both on the same high school team and we both have coached this long and been able to survive in a pretty tough business."
On the hardwood at Provo, Drury averaged 18 points per game as a sophomore and 21.3 points as a junior. He was named second-team All-State both times.
But Drury switched from forward to guard for his senior campaign. Taking over down low for Provo was a 6-foot-6 banger, then known as Stewart Morrill.
During their senior season, a role reversal of sorts took place. Although Drury was the one with recruiting letters from more than 40 colleges and billing from a national publication as one of the top 100 prep basketball players in the United States, it was Morrill who earned first-team All-State honors. And Drury was named second-team All-State for the third straight year.
The trend only amplified in college. Drury signed with BYU but never lettered during two years in the Cougar program.
Morrill, meanwhile, was an All-American at Ricks College before going to Gonzaga and twice earning All-Big Sky Conference recognition.
Although both men firmly aspired to coach basketball by the time they graduated from college, the former teammates traveled down decidedly different coaching paths. Drury stayed closer to home with an assistant job at Bountiful High, while Morrill apprenticed, first at Gonzaga and then at the University of Montana.
"We had a few discussions through the years about whether he'd ever want to do the college thing," Morrill said. "I think he's been wise to build his legacy there at Provo High.
"He is a legend at Provo. He's won more state championships than anyone in history. What an unbelievable career he's had."
To this day, Craig and Stew remain close. Drury takes his teams to Morrill's Utah State basketball camp every summer, and the leading scorer for the Aggies this year is Tai Wesley, a former Drury protege at Provo.
Spoiled rotten
Ironically, the man who commands a mini-empire of males ?— a crew that includes seven assistant coaches and a 20-boy basketball team — is perhaps best defined by his association with seven daughters.
"I think it's perfect for him," Robin Drury said. "He's got all of his boys down at the school, and he spends a lot of time with those boys. And then he comes home to all his girls. I don't know what more a man could want."
The seven Drury daughters all graduated from Provo High, and five were cheerleaders. Craig often sang to his daughters when they were younger; he never needed an invitation to spontaneously serenade them with "Thank Heaven for Little Girls."
These days, four of the brood reside outside of Utah in places as far away as Shanghai and Alaska. But with three daughters who still live nearby and regular visits from the out-of-towners, it seems like at least one of Craig Drury's girls is always on hand to dote on daddy dearest.
"Our daughters have spoiled him rotten," Robin Drury quipped. "He is the most spoiled man on the face of the earth. They all love him and come in and hug him and give him kisses and bring him food. He loves his girls, and they all love him. They've always just spoiled him."
Handyman
Craig Drury enjoys building things. His summer job in college was pouring cement, and for his family's last two houses, he drew up the architectural plans and installed the electrical wiring himself.
With that background, it's no surprise Drury succeeds at transforming collections of disparate players into cohesive, greater-than-the-sum-of-their-parts units.
"Craig Drury-coached teams know the importance of defense," Morrill said. "They are going to have a high basketball IQ because he teaches them the game, and they're going to have a toughness about them that you need to succeed."
Next year, though, presents a formidable challenge for Drury. The Bulldogs may have finished 19-4 and made it to the 4A semifinals this season, but they'll lose their top three players to graduation — including the state's best player, BYU-bound 6-foot-6 point guard Kyle Collinsworth.
Drury is unfazed. With input from his top assistant coach, Keli Lobendahn, he'll evaluate the returning talent and put the best players on the floor come game time.
It's a simple philosophy that has worked well for Drury, who has never finished with a losing record.
"I play favorites," Drury deadpanned recently. "I play the kids I think are going to win. They become my favorites."
e-mail: jaskar@desnews.com