Homer Drew

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Homer Drew
Sport(s) Basketball
Current position
Team Valparaiso
Biographical details
Born (1944-09-29) September 29, 1944
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1971–1972
1972–1976
1976–1987
1987–1988
1988–2002
2003–2011		 Washington State (asst.)
LSU (asst.)
Bethel
Indiana-South Bend
Valparaiso
Valparaiso
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Mid-Con Tournament Championship (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
Mid-Con Regular Season Championship (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004)
Awards
Mid-Con Coach of the Year (1994, 1995, 1996, 2002)

Homer Drew (born September 29, 1944) is a former American college basketball coach, most recently for Valparaiso University Crusaders men's basketball team. His younger son, Bryce Drew, succeeded him as the head coach in May 2011. 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.

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.

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 to 1999, and again in the 2001–02 season. In 1999–2000, he led the Crusaders to their sixth consecutive conference tournament title, and in 2000–01 to another regular season title. This continuous success helped Drew achieve conference Coach of the Year honors three consecutive seasons, from 1993 to 1996.

Drew led the Crusaders to five consecutive NCAA Tournaments from 1995 to 2000--the Crusaders' first postseason appearances as a Division I team. 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 69-67 with 4.1 seconds remaining in the game, and Mississippi's Ansu Sesay at the free throw line. After he missed 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 Pacer. Jamie Sykes inbounded a long throw to Bill Jenkins, who drew two defenders and quickly passed the ball to Drew's son, Bryce Drew. Then, as time expired, Bryce released a 23-foot three-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--the deepest run a Mid-Continent/Summit League team made in the NCAA Tournament since Cleveland State's run in 1986.

After coaching for another four seasons, Drew retired at the end of the 2001–02 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 62.3. This made him the winningest coach in Valpo history, with a 236–184 record there. Drew is nominated to become one of Valparaiso University's 150 Most Influential Persons in the university's history.

For the 2002–03 season, Drew's son Scott took the head coach position, but then left after one year to become the head coach at Baylor. Homer Drew was rehired as head coach for Valparaiso's men's basketball team in August 2003, and led the Crusaders back to the NCAA tournament in 2004.

At the conclusion of the 2005–06 season, Drew's career record was 555–347. His Valpo record stood at 286–225.[1] On May 17, 2011, Homer Drew stepped down as the head basketball coach and was succeeded by his son Bryce Drew.[2] On October 12, 2011, in a shocking announcement before the 2011-12 collegiate season, Homer Drew announced that he and his wife were both diagnosed with cancer. [3] His son Bryce Drew wore a light blue blazer the color symbolizing the fight against prostate cancer in his first regular season game versus the Arizona Wildcats to honor his father and the team publicly dedicated their season to their former coach and his wife.

Head coaching record

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Bethel College (1976–1987)
1976–1977 Bethel College 19–11
1977–1978 Bethel College 24–7
1978–1979 Bethel College 22–13
1979–1980 Bethel College 23–10
1980–1981 Bethel College 27–10
1981–1982 Bethel College 28–6
1982–1983 Bethel College 23–7
1983–1984 Bethel College 18–13
1984–1985 Bethel College 25–10
1985–1986 Bethel College 18–14
1986–1987 Bethel College 25–9
Bethel College: 252–110
Indiana University South Bend (1987–1988)
1987–1988 Indiana University South Bend 17–12
Indiana University South Bend: 17–12
Valparaiso (Mid-Continent Conference) (1988–2002)
1988–1989 Valparaiso 10–19 4–8 T–5th
1989–1990 Valparaiso 4–24 1–11 7th
1990–1991 Valparaiso 5–22 2–14 9th
1991–1992 Valparaiso 5–22 2–14 9th
1992–1993 Valparaiso 12–16 7–9 T–6th
1993–1994 Valparaiso 20–8 14–4 T–2nd
1994–1995 Valparaiso 20–8 14–4 1st
1995–1996 Valparaiso 22–10 13–5 1st NCAA 1st Round
1996–1997 Valparaiso 24–7 13–3 1st NCAA 1st Round
1997–1998 Valparaiso 23–10 13–3 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1998–1999 Valparaiso 23–10 10–4 T–1st NCAA 1st Round
1999–2000 Valparaiso 19–13 10–6 T–2nd NCAA 1st Round
2000–2001 Valparaiso 24–8 13–3 T–1st
2001–2002 Valparaiso 25–8 12–2 1st NCAA 1st Round
Valparaiso: 236–183 128–90
Valparaiso (Mid–Continent Conference) (2003–2007)
2003–2004 Valparaiso 18–13 11–5 1st NCAA 1st Round
2004–2005 Valparaiso 15–16 10–6 3rd
2005–2006 Valparaiso 17–12 8–8 T–4th
2006–2007 Valparaiso 16–15 9–5 3rd
Valparaiso: 66–56 38–24
Valparaiso (Horizon League) (2007–2011)
2007–2008 Valparaiso 22–14 9–9 T–4th CBI 2nd Round
2008–2009 Valparaiso 9–22 5–13 9th
2009–2010 Valparaiso 15–17 10–8 T–4th
2010–2011 Valparaiso 23–12 12–6 4th CIT First Round
Valparaiso: 69–65 36–36
Total: 640–428 (.599)

      National champion         Conference regular season champion         Conference tournament champion
      Conference regular season and conference tournament champion       Conference division champion

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.valpo.edu/athletics/assets/mediaguides/MBB-2006-2007-001.pdf
  2. ↑ http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/basketball/college/article_7a200448-45af-5219-b1b3-061c57ce2bf1.html
  3. ↑ http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/story/2011-10-12/valparaiso-homer-drew-cancer/50739274/1
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