Chowan University Athletics

George Drawhorn grew up in Princeton, North Carolina and attended Princeton County High School. He was a three sport athlete and lettered in football, basketball, and track &  field. George’s athletic talents shined on the football field and on the basketball court bright enough to earn All-Conference and All-Metro in both sports in his junior and senior seasons.
 
His athletic prowess garnered the attention of many college coaches but one in particular was Chowan College’s then-head c oach, Jim Garrison. Garrison teamed up with the men’s basketball coach at the time, Jerry Smith, and recruited George to Chowan where he helped to build on the success of both the football and men’s basketball programs. In the off season George lent his hand to the Chowan Track and Field team where he also lettered.
 
Although George excelled in all sports he played, basketball featured his most storied successes while at Chowan. Under Smith in his final season with the then-Braves George earned All-Conference (1978) and was named to the Region IX All-Conference Team (1978).  
 
George continued his playing career at Pembroke State University, now known as University of North Carolina at Pembroke (1978-1980). He earned a starting position under then-coach Billy Lee and continued with his dominance on the court just as he did while at Chowan. As one of the team’s top scoring and rebounding threats, George was named to the All-Conference team in both his junior and senior seasons.
 
George graduated from Pembroke State with a B.S. in Health and Physical Education. He was immediately hired in nearby Hoke County. He worked as a teacher and coach in the Hoke County School system for ten years. He served as an assistant football and basketball coach for three years at Hoke County High School. In 1984 George was named the Head Coach of the boys’ basketball team where his team consistently posted top three finishes in both the regular season and at conference tournaments. In those seven seasons he was named the Conference Coach of the Year three times and participated in the State playoffs from 1985-1989.  He also served as the head coach for the girls track team from 1984-1990 and the head coach for the boys and girls cross country teams.
 
George left Hoke County High School in 1990 for Wilson-Fike High School in Wilson, NC. He served as a teacher and coach for 19 years in the Wilson County School system before retiring in 2009. When he retired in 2009 he had amassed over 450 winning games on the basketball court. He retired as the longest active basketball coach in Fike’s history and was named a Lifetime Coach by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.  He had the honor of coaching the East-West All-Star game in 2004 and the North South All-Star game in 2008. George is a member of the Johnston County Hall of Fame (2010) and the Princeton High School Hall of Fame (2008). He was also named Who’s Who in Education five times over his tenure in North Carolina education and was named Teacher of the Year one time (1992).
 
George resides in Wilson, NC with his wife, Sandra Highsmith Drawhorn.  Together they have two daughters, Sanita and Jocelyn, and a granddaughter, D’asis Sanders.  George is active in his local community as a member of his local NAACP chapter. He is a member of New Dimensions Community Church where he serves as the AV Technician and as a Youth Instructor.