This is the second in a series of articles looking at potential replacements for Oliver Purnell as head coach of DePaul men’s basketball.
Sources still maintain Bryce Drew is DePaul’s top head-coaching candidate. I’m told Ben Howland never materialized as an option.
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) March 24, 2015
Byrce Drew Bio
- Age:40
- Current Job:Head Coach of Valparaiso (fourth season)
Valparaiso head coach Bryce Drew applauds the crowd after Valparaiso won the Horizon League conference tournament. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond) - Record: 94-42 (.691), 28-6 this season
- NCAA Appearances: 2 (2013, 2015)
As Emma reported, if DePaul wants to go younger, than Drew is certainly an interesting choice. At Valparaiso, Drew has established a winning program in his four years as a head coach.
In his four seasons at the helm, Drew has never had a losing record. In the two years his teams didn’t make the NCAA tournament, Valparaiso still made the NIT and CBI tournaments respectively.
Drew’s teams have also done very well defensively. This season, the Crusaders ranked 31 in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency, according to Ken Pomeroy. In three of his four seasons, Drew’s teams ranked higher in defensive efficiency than offense.
It’s unclear what interest Drew would have in DePaul as Drew took over his alma mater Valparaiso from his father in 2011. Historically, there has been a Drew coaching Valparaiso since 1988. Bryce Drew’s father, Homer, coached the team in two separate stints from 1988 to 2001 and 2003 to 2011. Bryce’s brother Scott coached the team in 2002 before leaving for Baylor in 2003.
Drew also recently told the NW Times of Indiana that he had every intention of staying at Valparaiso for next season.
“I love being here,” Drew said. “I love my team. I’m excited for what we have next year. I plan on being back. It would take something really special for any of that to change.”
If DePaul wants to lure Drew, the offer will have to be very rewarding.
Quick Facts
- Played four years at Valparaiso from 1994-1998.
- Drafted 16th overall in 1998, played for the Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls and Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets in six-year NBA career.
- Hired as assistant coach at Valparaiso in 2005 and promoted to associate head coach under his father in 2006.
- Promoted to head coach in 2011.