Homer Drew

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**Homer Drew**
Schools as a coach

Sport	Basketball
College	Valparaiso
Title	Head coach
Record with Team	286-225
Overall Record	555-347
2003-present 1988-2002 1987-1988 1976-1987	Valparaiso Valparaiso Indiana University South Bend Bethel College

Homer Drew is the head coach of the Valparaiso University Crusader men's basketball team. His younger son, Bryce Drew, currently serves as an associate coach under him on the men's basketball team, and his elder son Scott Drew is the head coach of Baylor University's men's basketball team after having served 9 years assisting under Homer and one year as head coach of Valparaiso. Homer Drew is best known for leading Valparaiso's improbable run in the 1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.

[edit] Early career

A native of St. Louis, Missouri, he achieved his Bachelor of Arts in physical education and social studies at William Jewell College in 1966 before completing his Master of Arts in education at Washington University in St. Louis in 1968. Drew then earned a Doctorate in educational administration from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan in 1983. Drew attained his first head coaching job at Bethel College (Indiana) from 1976-1987 and then spent one year as the head coach at Indiana University South Bend for the 1987-1988 season.

[edit] Valpo Career

In 1988, Drew moved to Valparaiso University. Valpo was a model of consistency under Drew, winning both the Mid-Continent Conference regular season and tournament titles five straight seasons from 1994-1999, and again in the 2001-2002 season. In 1999-2000, he led the Crusaders to their sixth consecutive conference tournament title, and in 2000-2001 to another regular season title. This continuous success helped Drew achieve conference Coach of the Year honors three consecutive seasons, from 1993-1996.

The pinnacle of Drew's coaching career came during the 1998 NCAA Tournament. In the Midwest Region, 13-seed Valparaiso was facing 4-seed Ole Miss in the first round. Valparaiso was down 67-69 with 4.1 seconds remaining in the game, and Mississippi's Ansu Sesay at the free throw line. After missing both shots, the Crusaders came up with possession -- 94 feet from their basket, and with only 2.5 seconds remaining in the game. On the inbound, Drew called the play known as the Pacer. Jamie Sykes inbounded a long throw to Bill Jenkins, who passed the ball to his practically unguarded son, Bryce Drew. Then, as time expired, Bryce released a 23-foot 3-point shot, clinching the Crusaders' 70-69 upset and advancing them in the tournament. The Crusaders proceeded to defeat 12-seeded Florida State University 83-77 in overtime. However, the Crusaders finally fell to 8-seeded University of Rhode Island by a score of 74-68.

After coaching for another four seasons, Drew retired at the end of the 2001-2002 season and took a post as Special Assistant to the President for University Advancement. As of February 21, 2002, Drew had become one of only 19 active Division I coaches to earn his 500th career victory and mounted a 26-season career record of 505-306, a winning percentage of .623. This made him the winningest coach in Valpo history, with a 236-184 record there.

For the 2002-2003 season, his son Scott took the head coach position, but then left after one year to become the head coach at Baylor. Homer was rehired as head coach for Valparaiso's men's basketball team in August of 2003, and has already led the Crusaders back to the NCAA tournament in 2004.

At the conclusion of the 2005-2006 season, Drew's career record was 555-347. His Valpo record stood at 286-225 [1]

[edit] External links

Preceded by: Tom Smith	Valparaiso Head Men's Basketball Coach 1988 – 2002	Succeeded by: Scott Drew
Preceded by: Scott Drew	Valparaiso Head Men's Basketball Coach 2003 – present	Incumbent

Valparaiso Men's Basketball Coaches
Winters • Keogan • Goheen • Shadoan • Anderson • Moll • Scott • Christiansen • Ellis • Bauer • Warnke • Allen • Suesens • Meadows • Bartow • Purden • Rochlitz • Smith • H. Drew • S. Drew • H. Drew