- For ex-Valpo coach Scott Drew, winning ways continue
At Baylor University, in Waco, Texas, he’s known as the coach who revived a men’s basketball program that was mired in scandal.
At Valparaiso University, he’s known as the coach who helped to build the breakout team that made a Sweet 16 appearance in 1998.
Scott Drew ’94 M.A.L.S. has led Baylor to a 25-7 regular-season record and a tie for second place in the Big 12 Conference during the 2009-2010 season. The Bears made their second NCAA tournament appearance in three seasons. Drew was named conference coach of the year by the Austin American-Statesman and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
“In my lifetime, I’ve never seen a coach come into a more difficult situation,” said Homer Drew, men’s basketball coach at Valpo and father of Scott, describing his son’s arrival at Baylor in 2003 and subsequent remaking of the men’s basketball program there. “It’s miraculous how quickly he’s transformed it. It’s truly been remarkable.”
Baylor has won 20 games for the third straight year, a first for the school.
With brother Bryce Drew ’98, once a star player at Valpo, now associate head men’s basketball coach, the game continues to be very much a family affair for the Drews.
“We talk every day or every other day,” Scott said of his relationship with Bryce and Homer Drew. “During basketball season, I watch their games, and they watch our games. Dads know best how to make you feel better, and how to keep your head on straight.”
Scott Drew spent nine years as an assistant coach at Valpo and one year as head coach before taking the Baylor job, with Homer Drew returning to the head coaching job at Valpo in 2003.
“While he was at Valpo he was our chief recruiter,” Homer Drew said. “He really formed the backbone of those NCAA tournament teams. I feel that I was really blessed to have him for the years that we had him.
“His connection to Valpo has been a wonderful thing.”
The Baylor head coach says he couldn’t have had a better teacher than his father.
“I learned everything from my dad. When my dad first got to Valpo, he stressed the importance of bringing in good people, and not just good athletes. Players who would graduate and represent the University well,” Scott Drew said. “It’s always a community and citywide venture. You need everybody involved.”
His friend Rob Behrend, a Valparaiso dentist, says Scott Drew built that sense of community during his time at Valpo.
“It’s just fun to watch someone you know who is so passionate about what he does,” Behrend said.
Scott Drew, who with his wife, Kelly, has two children, cites his time as a graduate student at Valpo as another key to his development.
“Your academic degrees have a huge impact on your life,” he said. “Valpo has some of the best teachers in the country. The academic experience I had at Valpo helped to shape me as a man, professionally and personally.”
Besides the frequent basketball-related phone conversations, Scott said he, Bryce and their father keep up a tradition of embarking on fishing trips.
“All we do is talk fishing and basketball,” Scott said. “We’re always competitive, but the difference is, we’re all on the same team. If we don’t catch anything, we don’t eat.”
