ARC floor to be renamed after Homer Drew

VALPARAISO | If Homer Drew is anything, he's an incredibly humble individual who is always quick to point out others' accomplishments as opposed to his own.

With that in mind, the longtime Valparaiso men's basketball coach may be a little uncomfortable on Saturday night when the University officially dedicates the newly-finished basketball court in his honor.

The court at the Athletics-Recreation Center was replaced over the summer and the school announced in April that it would be named "Homer Drew Court." The dedication will take place prior to Saturday's exhibition opener against Olivet Nazarene.

"This honor is for all the players that have played on the court before and for the ones who will get to enjoy the new floor," Drew said. "The floor we used to have was very hard and this new floor is so much better and is a real benefit to all of the athletes who will get to use it."

Drew took over the Valparaiso basketball program in 1988 and has led the Crusaders to seven NCAA tournament appearances, including five straight from 1996-2000. With 617 career victories, Drew is the sixth among active coaches.

"As a university and an athletic department, it's an appropriate honor," Valparaiso director of athletics Mark LaBarbera said. "When you look at the tradition of Valparaiso basketball, dating back more than 90 years, Homer Drew is the most significant part of that and that part has really played out on a national level. It's appropriate when you look at what he's added to our athletic reputation and our basketball reputation."

Saturday will prove to be a reunion of sorts at the ARC as former Valparaiso men's basketball coach and current Baylor coach Scott Drew will be on hand for the festivities along with a large number of Drew's family. Along with Scott and Valparaiso associate head coach Bryce Drew, Homer Drew's daughter Dana Shaw will be flying in from Europe while Drew's mother and sister will also be in attendance.

"The nice byproduct of (the dedication) is that I'll be getting my entire family together," Drew said. "It will be nice to have everyone back here and together."

When Drew's name becomes affixed to the ARC floor on Saturday night, the Valparaiso coach will join a select group of college coaches, including John Wooden (UCLA), Gene Keady (Purdue) and Branch McKracken (Indiana), who have had a court named after them.

"I'm sure I'll come back and look at it years from now, but I'm just excited for the players right now," Drew said. "I told them that even though we have a lot of activities this weekend; the important thing is that they all enjoy the game of basketball."