Daily Dive: Northview hires Mario Drayton; McNair enters coaching carousel

The Northview Titans hired Mario Drayton to lead the program on Friday and filled a vacancy that was left in November following the departure of Scott Schwarzerwho remained in place as the schools AD to make the choice. Coach Schwarzer arrived to Northview in 2021 and brought 23 years of experience where he made stops at football programs across North Carolina and Georgia. Northview has struggled over the last four seasons with a combined record of 4-36. This past year, Northview finished a 1-9 campaign with its lone victory coming in a 34-0 home win over Clarkston.

Coach Drayton will look to revitalize an offense that was held scoreless in four games and failed to reach double-digit points in seven of their 10 games last seasonresulting in an 8.1 ppg average. Drayton has spent the last four seasons leading McNairwhere he led them to a 12-28 record. In 2022, McNair was able to snap a 24-game losing streak and in 2024, McNair broke a 17-year playoff drought under coach Drayton.

Drayton started his coaching career at Berrien in 2006 and spent time in Florida at Valwood and Cook before coming to Georgia and taking coaching positions at Thomas County Central and Lowndes. Northview competes in Region 5-4A and is in a deep region that includes state finalist Marist, Southwest DeKalb, Tucker, St. Pius, Lithonia, Druid Hills, North Springs, Clarkston and Cross Keys.

Now McNair will join the coaching carousel after Draytons departure. Before Draytons four-year stint, McNair was led by Johnny Burdettewho just took the Meadowcreek head coaching position. McNair will be competing in Region 4-Div. I with Social Circle, Lamar County, Jasper County, Putnam County, Towers and Utopian Academy.