High School Sports
High School Sports

Northview names head football coach

Mario Drayton was McNair's head coach for four seasons (2021-24). His teams ended a 24-game losing streak in 2022 and reached the playoffs in 2024 for the first time in 17 seasons.

Credit: DeKalb County Athletics

Credit: DeKalb County Athletics

Mario Drayton was McNair's head coach for four seasons (2021-24). His teams ended a 24-game losing streak in 2022 and reached the playoffs in 2024 for the first time in 17 seasons.
By
Feb 7, 2025

Northview hired Mario Drayton as its football coach on Friday.

Drayton was McNair’s coach the past four seasons with a 12-28 record. His 2022 team ended a 24-game losing streak, and his 2024 team broke a 17-year playoff drought.

Drayton was Lowndes’ wide receivers coach when McNair hired him in 2021.

Drayton started his coaching career at Berrien in 2006 and has assisted at Hamilton County in his native Florida, Valwood, Cook and Thomas County Central, most often as an offensive coordinator.

Drayton a former NAIA baseball All-American at Edward Waters College.

Northview, a north Fulton County school that competes in Class 4A, was 1-9 last season under Scott Schwarzer, who remained as athletic director and led the coaching search.

About the Author

Todd Holcomb covers high school sports across the state. He rejoined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2025 and has worked with the AJC in varying capacities since 1985. He is a co-founder and editor of Georgia High School Football Daily.

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