Valpo coach another Drew

VALPARAISO, Ind. - Valparaiso is keeping its basketball coaches all in the family.

Longtime Crusaders coach Homer Drew announced yesterday that he was retiring for a second time and again turning over the reins to one of his sons. This time, it's former Valparaiso star Bryce Drew taking over for dad less than 8 years after his brother was the head coach here, too.

"My vision is very simple," Bryce Drew said. "To my dad, I'm extremely proud of what you accomplished here. To my brother, I'm very proud of what you've accomplished here. But my dream is to take Valpo to the next level."

In 2002, Drew's other son, Scott, took over the program. But after one season, Scott Drew accepted the job at Baylor and Homer Drew returned to the Crusaders.

In 2005, Homer Drew hired his other son, Bryce, as an assistant, and it seemed Bryce Drew - Valparaiso's most famous player - was destined to be his father's successor.

In 1988, Homer Drew took over a program that had never been to the NCAA Tournament or posted a winning record in its Division I era. Drew, with the help of his sons, turned the Crusaders from an also-ran into one of the nation's elite midmajor programs. He had nine 20-win seasons and took the Crusaders to five straight NCAA tourneys from 1996 to 2000.

He will remain at the school as associate athletic director.