After leading Baylor to a national title in 2021, Scott Drew has decided to turn down the opportunity to coach at Kentucky, which emerged as the top choice to replace John Calipari. Despite having a close relationship with Kentucky’s athletic director, Mitch Barnhart, Drew ultimately chose to stay at Baylor, where he has coached for 21 years and accumulated a record of 446-244. The decision was influenced by the deep roots the Drew family has established in central Texas, as well as Drew’s previous consideration of an offer from Louisville.
Although serious talks with Kentucky were underway, Drew took a day to deliberate before making his final decision. His choice to remain in Waco leaves Kentucky searching for candidates in a different tier. National title-winning coaches like Jay Wright and Dan Hurley have already declined interest, while others like Billy Donovan have publicly committed to their current positions. Drew’s success at Baylor, following a challenging rebuilding effort after taking over a program mired in scandal, solidified his position as one of the premier coaches in college basketball today.
