Home Examining Baylor coach Scott Drew as a candidate for the open UVA Basketball job
Basketball, Sports

Examining Baylor coach Scott Drew as a candidate for the open UVA Basketball job

Chris Graham
uva basketball
Photo: Mike Ingalls/AFP

The search committee vetting candidates for the open UVA Basketball coach job is now looking over a fourth candidate – Scott Drew, who won a national championship at Baylor in 2021.

This information comes to us from two sources from two different points of contact – one who has heard directly from the committee about Drew now being in the mix, the second who was apprised of the interest in Drew from contacts within the big-money donor community.

Scott Drew: Available?


I’m not sure what I think personally about the idea that Drew, who has been at Baylor since 2003, with a 460-250 record, the national title, two Elite Eights and two Sweet Sixteens, is actually available, or even approachable.

According to USA Today, Drew’s salary last year was $5.1 million; we don’t know the exact details of his compensation because Baylor is a private school, and thus not subject to open-records laws.

There were reports that both Louisville and Kentucky reached out to Drew last spring about their open jobs, and he rebuffed both offers.

One of the reports about why he turned down the Louisville job included the claim that Baylor had offered Drew an $8.5 million-a-year extension to keep him on campus, but I’ve not seen any corroboration on that.

Another report offered the nugget that his contract includes a $4.5 million buyout, which I can accept as being at least in the ballpark for a coach with his resume.

A third report went into detail about how he wanted to remain in Waco because his wife and three children simply like it there, and don’t want to pack up and move, which is understandable, given his long tenure at Baylor.

So, he turned down Louisville, turned down (gulp!) Kentucky, two of the best jobs in the college basketball business, just a year ago.

He may or may not have signed a lucrative extension.

His family is probably still just as happy in Waco as they were a year ago.

How realistic this might be


I’m trying to figure out who Drew might know in the UVA Basketball world that would make the search-committee and big-money folks think he’s a realistic target, and I have an idea.

There’s one guy that I regularly converse with who has everybody who is anybody in college sports in his phone.

There’d have to be some kind of personal connection to make it realistic that our folks would know that Drew would be interested.

One other part to this section of the story relevant here: it’s been made clear to me that money is not going to be an obstacle, so, if it takes $5 million-plus-per-year and a one-time multimillion-dollar buyout of an existing contract to get the guy, I’ve been told that would happen.

The candidate pool


Drew’s name being thrown into the mix gives us two distinct batches of top candidates now.

I’d put Drew and Shaka Smart in the splash category, of big-name coaches with proven track records who would win the press conference.

The second category is up-and-comers, Ryan Odom at VCU and Bob Richey at Furman, guys more akin to Tony Bennett at Washington State, who had been on the radar for a lot of top jobs when we ended up getting him, but was still looked at as a guy who would have to grow into the job.


ICYMI


There’s something to be said about going in either direction.

Looking at the current Top 10, Auburn and Tennessee rebuilt their programs with big-name guys (Bruce Pearl, Rick Barnes) who had success elsewhere

Flip side, Florida snatched Todd Golden from San Francisco, and Iowa State got TJ Otzelberger from UNLV (which had poached him from South Dakota State), and things are working out well for both.

Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham, the king of "fringe media," a zero-time Virginia Sportswriter of the Year, and a member of zero Halls of Fame, is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].

Latest News

How To Bet On The Philadelphia Eagles To Win The Super Bowl
Sports News

How To Bet On The Philadelphia Eagles To Win The Super Bowl

How To Bet On Super Bowl 2025
Sports News

DraftKings Promo Code Alternatives With Better Super Bowl Bonuses

With the amount of Super Bowl bonuses on offer, it would be rude not to accept and have some fun wagering on Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles. Super Bowl LIX will have more eyes on it than any of the NFL’s preceding curtain closers as the Kansas City Chiefs aim to become the first...

How To Bet On Super Bowl 2025
Sports News

Georgia Sports Betting Update: Bet On Super Bowl With GA Betting Apps

Bet on the Super Bowl in Georgia using our safe and trusted offshore sports betting sites. While Georgia has yet to authorize in-state sportsbooks, residents can still place wagers safely and legally through offshore betting apps. This guide highlights the best Georgia sports betting apps for the Super Bowl, how to place a bet, and...

How To Bet On The Super Bowl
Sports News

Best Reddit Super Bowl Betting Sites With Free Bet Bonuses

Sports News

Best Free Money Super Bowl Betting Sites With Free Bets and Bonuses

Sports News

Best Super Bowl Betting Sites With No Deposit and Free Bets

patrick mahomes - How To Bet On The Super Bowl
Football, Sports News

How To Bet On The Kansas City Chiefs To Win The Super Bowl