Sometimes, life has different plans for you, which is undoubtedly the case for Baylor head coach Scott Drew, who recently turned down the Kentucky job. The opening was initiated by John Calipari, who left for Arkansas, but for Scott Drew, this wasn’t the right time to leave Baylor in hopes of recreating magic in Lexington. Having led the Bears to a national championship in 2021, some thought that this might be the perfect time for Scott Drew to take on another challenge, but it sounds like his work in Waco is just getting started.
It’s challenging for these coaches to decide on whether to accept a job like Kentucky, but Drew has the track record of turning programs around, but this was a family decision and one that all of them were going to make. After acting as a decoy for his family by posing for a picture inside a restaurant near Waco, he provided his loved ones with a chance to explore Lexington for the day. Given this would’ve been a massive move for his family, which includes kids in high school and college, they needed to get a feel of where their life would potentially continue.
#JOY pic.twitter.com/JhxpsmHVOw
— Scott Drew (@BUDREW) April 11, 2024
After arriving back in Waco, sources close to the situation tell OutKick that the family sat down to have a conversation on whether this was the right move or not. The Baylor coach wanted input from every single member of the family, and they ultimately decided that God had put them in Waco for a reason, and now wasn’t the right time to leave. He explained, “In our program, we strive to put Jesus first, then others, then ourselves. We truly believe God has called my family and I to continue our work here at Baylor, surrounded by the best people and community anyone could be blessed to have. We are grateful for the support of Mack Rhoades, President Livingstone and the entire Baylor family, and we look forward to working together to bring more championships to Waco.”
Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart has had a list from the very start of this search, which every AD has tucked away somewhere in their office or home. Scott Drew was a name that stood out due to his success, along with his friendship with Barnhart. Now, we are still in the first inning of this coaching search, with multiple big names still being discussed. There is a notion from Kentucky fans and media that Dan Hurley would be interested in the job, especially with the money that could come with saying yes.
However, it isn’t very easy, with UConn coming off another national championship-winning season and the Huskies athletic department ready to do whatever it takes to lockdown Hurley. We also cannot forget his recent comments, where he told multiple folks in Phoenix that he would not be interested in leaving UConn, even suggesting some folks talked with his wife about the possibility of leaving Storrs for Lexington.