Well, let me tell ya ’bout this fella, Homer Drew. Don’t rightly know him personal-like, but heard a whole heap ’bout him. Seems he was a big deal in that basketball racket, coachin’ and all.
Homer Drew, the Basketball Man
Now, they say this Homer, he weren’t no spring chicken when he started coachin’. Born way back in 1944, that’s what they say. And he coached all over the place! Washington State, LSU, some place called Bethel College, even Indiana-South Bend. But mostly, he was known for coachin’ at Valparaiso. That’s a town, I reckon, and a school too. He was there a long, long time.
- Started coachin’ way back when
- Coached at a bunch of different places
- Most famous for bein’ at Valparaiso
They say he was a winner, this Homer. Everywhere he went, he won games. Lots of ’em! Over 600 wins in his whole career, that’s what I heard. That’s a whole lotta basketball games, if you ask me. He started at Valparaiso in 1988, been there for a good long spell. Musta been somethin’ special ’bout that place, keepin’ him there so long.
A Fixture in Valparaiso
Folks ’round Valparaiso, they just love this Homer Drew. He was a “fixture,” they say. Means he was always there, like part of the furniture, but in a good way, ya know? Been on the sidelines for over two decades, coachin’ them young fellas. More than 371 wins just at Valparaiso. That’s a lot of cheerin’ and hollerin’ for the folks in them stands, I betcha.
And they didn’t just win games neither. They went to the tournaments, the NCAA tournaments, seven times! That’s like the big show for college basketball, the best of the best. Homer, he took his team there, again and again. Made Valparaiso proud, that’s for sure.
More Than Just a Coach
Seems like Homer Drew was more than just a coach, though. They named the basketball court after him! That’s a big honor, I reckon. Shows how much they respected him, how much he meant to that town and that school. He retired from coachin’ in 2011, but folks still remember him. They still talk about him. He left his mark, that’s for sure.
Homer Drew’s Early Days
I even heard a story about when Homer was just a little shaver, eight years old. He’d go out and play basketball with the bigger kids. Got knocked around a bit, but he kept playin’. Guess that shows ya somethin’ ’bout his spirit, even back then. He loved that game, and he was determined. Started young and kept at it, that’s the way to do it, I always say. From an eight-year-old scrappy kid to a big-time college coach. That’s quite a journey, wouldn’t ya say?
The Drew Family Legacy
And it don’t stop there with the Drew family and basketball. Homer’s got a son, Bryce Homer Drew. He played basketball too, and now he’s a coach himself! Head coach at Grand Canyon Antelopes, whatever that is. Must be another school somewhere. Guess basketball runs in the family, like some folks got farmin’ in their blood, the Drews got basketball.
So, that’s the story of Homer Drew, as best as I can tell it. A basketball man, a winner, a fixture in Valparaiso. A fella who loved the game and made a difference. He worked hard and he did good. Can’t ask for much more than that, can ya?
Homer Drew’s Coaching Journey
From what I gather, Homer Drew didn’t just stick to one place his whole life. He started out at Bethel, then went to Indiana-South Bend. Won a bunch of games at both places, they say. Over 269 wins before he even got to Valparaiso. That’s a lot of winnin’, no matter how ya slice it. He took the reins at Valparaiso in 1988 and that’s where he really made his name. Twenty-two years at Valpo, that’s a lifetime for some folks. He built somethin’ special there, a real program. They respected him, and he respected them. That’s how you build a winnin’ team, and a winnin’ legacy, I reckon.
Leaving a Lasting Impression
He wasn’t just about the wins, though. Folks talk about how he cared about his players, how he taught them more than just basketball. He taught ‘em about life, about bein’ good people. That’s important, ya know? More important than any game, really. He made an impact on a lot of young men, helped them grow up and become somethin’. That’s a legacy that lasts longer than any trophy or record.
So, there you have it. Homer Drew. A name folks ’round Valparaiso, and maybe even further, won’t soon forget. A good man, a good coach, and a winner. And that’s all there is to it.
