Provo Bulldogs basketball coach Craig Drury has a soft side

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.