Beloved Baylor Men’s Basketball head coach Scott Drew was just named the Coach John Wooden “Keys to Life” award winner in his 20th season at the program’s helm! The “Keys to Life” website states, “The Coach Wooden ‘Keys to Life’ Award is presented annually to a player or coach who best exemplifies character, leadership, and faith in the home, on the court, and throughout the community. The Athletes in Action Coach Wooden ‘Keys to Life’ Breakfast is a marquee event at the Men’s Final Four Weekend.” The National Champion, 2x Big 12 Champion, 3x (consecutive might I add) Big 12 Coach of the Year Drew led what we now know to be the greatest rebuilding story in the history of college basketball (or even sports in general)—taking a broken and battered basketball team nearly 20 years ago and turning the program into one of the most elite in the country (can someone say Keyonte George and incoming Miro Little?). According to Baylor Athletics’ Jerry Hill (papa), “In addition to the national title in 2021, Drew has led Baylor to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, five Sweet 16 berths and three trips to the Elite Eight. Additionally, the program achieved its first No. 1 national ranking, a Big 12 Conference-record 23-game winning streak, two five-week streaks at No. 1, and an entire season ranked in the nation’s top-3 in 2021.” During his time at Baylor thus far, Drew’s notched a 419-230 record with 13 postseason bids and at least 18 or more victories in each season since 2008. Prior to Drew’s tenure, Baylor had only appeared in four NCAA tournaments with rankings in only two of 2,197 match ups over the prior 97 seasons. Drew follows in the footsteps of his father Homer by earning the award, marking the first time in “Keys to Life” history that a father and son have both been named winners!
