The prodigal son returns home…A standout defensive back for Denham Springs HS in the late 80’s, Dru has resurrected the Jackets program since returning to his Alma Matter in 2005 as Athletic Director/Head Football Coach…Jackets were 23-67 in 9 years prior to his return…Coach Nettles has led Denham Springs to a combined 15-6 record in the Jackets last 2 playoff seasons, which have included several recent firsts: 2008 was the first time the Jackets had a winning season and made the playoffs since 1995, 2008 marked first year the Jackets defeated state-power Catholic High School since 1978, 2009 marked Denham Springs HS second straight winning season and playoff team since 1991 and 1989 respectively…Has never said such for the record, but if you gave Dru a polygraph test, he would deny that his play-by-play announcer and The Dru Nettles Show co-host Jon Fine has had anything to do with the Jackets success…Yet, Dru tolerates Jon because Fine is one of the few members of the media shorter than he is…The good rapport Dru and Jon have established may be put to the ultimate test as they wage a LeBron James-like free agency battle for the services of Denham Springs statistician Robert Graves…Dru enjoyed a standout 3-year football career (86-88) at Denham Springs, playing under venerable LHSAA Hall of Famer Butch Wax…First team all-District defensive back on 87 team that won the District and advanced to the second round of the playoffs…holds numerous school records, including most single season pass interceptions (10 in 12 games in 1987) and career INT’s (12)…There are some who have a sneaking suspicion that these records will remain intact while Dru coaches the Jackets, because if any player comes close, he will be benched…And, if that doesn’t work, some say, he’ll have Robert Graves manipulate the statistics!…Played some tailback in junior and senior seasons… Knee injury limited Dru to 5 games in senior season …Teammate of Big Mike’s Sports Bar and Grill owner Mike O’Neal Jr…4-year starter on Jackets Baseball team, including being a freshman catcher for Denham legend Ben McDonald on 1986 5A state championship team… …Played catcher 4 years at Southeastern Louisiana…1994 graduate of SLU, which is hard to understand in that records of Dru graduating from DSHS have been difficult for Jon to locate…Asst Coach at Denham (1994-1997)…Head Baseball Coach (1998-2002) at Woodlawn HS, winning 4 District championships…Head Football Coach (2002-2004) at WHS, going 20-12 and making playoffs twice…Married to the former Shelley Earnhart…Not true that Shelley, a Mississippi State graduate, has had Cowbells confiscated from her at Jackets football games…2 daughters, Clair and Faith…Great, poignant broadcasting moment in aftermath of heartbreaking 2010 nail-biting season-ending loss to Catholic HS in first round of playoffs, when Coach Nettles, asked on air by sideline reporter Chris Gordy what he’d tell his team.  Dru said “I’d tell them I love them”…Jackets color commentator Big Jim McChristian, a hard-nosed Texan, wells up in tears whenever this is re-told.

Dru Nettles co-hosts The Dru Nettles Show, Thursday nights, 7pm-8pm, broadcasting live from Big Mike’s Sports Bar & Grill, Aspen Square, Denham Springs, on The Score,  1210AM, Baton Rouge and on the Net, right here, at SportsGumbo.net