Drew, Smith head list of inductees

VALPARAISO | Less than nine months ago, Homer Drew retired as the Valparaiso University men's basketball coach.

If ever there was a "no-brainer" selection to the school's Athletics Hall of Fame, it was Drew. The selection committee realized that, and Drew was inducted along with five others during the 15th annual banquet Saturday afternoon in the community room of the Christopher Center.

"I'm going in because of the help of many," Drew told the crowd of about 125. "A lot of hands went into this honor. The most important group are the players."

Drew then played a video of four big wins during his tenure, beginning with the end of a 71-68 upset over Notre Dame on Dec. 17, 1988 in his first season. It showed Scott Anselm, also a Valpo High graduate, making a free throw shortly before the students and other fans stormed the court in what local media called the "Miracle on Union Street."

"It was an exciting moment for a group of young people," Drew said.

He also showed clips of son Bryce Drew hitting the shot to beat Mississippi 70-69 in the NCAA Tournament on March 14, 1998, a win over Washington in the CBI in March of 2008, and last year's BracketBuster victory over Missouri State when ESPN's Dick Vitale broadcast the game.

"I'd really like to thank the fans, because all of you have been a part of this," Drew said. "Thank you for allowing me to be in the Hall of Fame."

Also inducted were volleyball players Katie (Bova) Hoffmann and Lauren (Moulton) Marshall, teammates from 2002-2005 under coach Karin Avery, team physician Dr. James Malayter (1983-2007), baseball player Russ Steinbeck (1964-67) and former men's basketball coach Tom Smith, who preceded Drew from 1980 to 1988.

Smith's acceptance speech stole the show. Since leaving Valpo, he has been a head coach at Missouri Western State. He missed a game Saturday night in order to attend the ceremony.

"I finally found a game that I was absolutely certain we weren't going to win," Smith said.

Prior to the ceremony, Smith walked the campus with his wife, Patsy. They dropped in on the men's basketball team's practice, and an assistant coach asked him to leave because he didn't know him.

"My reception back is I get kicked out of practice," Smith said.

He coached his son, 1984 VHS graduate Todd, at Valpo for three seasons before Homer Drew took over.

"I always tell my son Todd if he had been as good as Homer's son Bryce, I'd probably still be here," Smith said. "But Todd's response to that was it's in the genes, so it's my fault that he wasn't as good as Bryce."

Smith was a three-year starter as a player at Valpo in the 1960s, playing for legendary coach Gene Bartow. He was named an honorable mention Little All-American in his senior year of 1966.

"This is an absolutely wonderful honor," Smith said. "This proves that the older we get, the better we were."