What a great day to be a Baylor Bear!  In 2004, I began my role as director of the “B” Association during one of the most difficult periods in Baylor athletic history. To provide some context, the beloved Baylor Alumni Association was embroiled in a contentious legal battle with the University, the men’s basketball program was attempting to rebound from one of the biggest scandals ever in college basketball, and our football program was fighting to keep its conference affiliation with the Big 12, having won a total of only 12 games in the previous five seasons. Morale was low, as was the immediate outlook for the future. I began to wonder if I had made a mistake leaving my previously held position at the American Football Coaches Association where I spent 10 years working alongside my mentor and former head football coach, the legendary Grant Teaff.

My spirits were lifted one day after having a conversation with Baylor’s newly hired, young and energetic men’s basketball coach, Scott Drew. Drew had taken over a program that was in utter ruins. The program he inherited faced stiff NCAA sanctions that included cuts in scholarships and a ban from post-season tournament play. Equally damaging was the relentless negative recruiting Drew faced on the recruiting trail. Despite all this, Coach Drew always appeared positive and upbeat. During a visit to his office one afternoon, I asked him how he responded to recruits who were told by opposing coaches that they would never win at Baylor. I’ll never forget what he said. He responded, “You know Walter, when a recruit tells me that coaches from other schools tell him he won’t ever win at Baylor, I tell that recruit those coaches do not believe he is a winner. I tell him I’m recruiting him because I believe he IS a winner. That’s why I’m recruiting him – I believe he can help us win a national championship at Baylor.” From that very moment, I knew Scott Drew would be successful at Baylor.

His success at Baylor is nothing short of miraculous.  Since 2008, the Bears have reached the NCAA tournament nine times with the 2010 and 2012 Elite Eight berths preceding Sweet 16 berths in 2014 and 2017. Drew’s NCAA tournament record is a remarkable 17-8. Now, under the leadership of President Linda Livingstone and athletic director Mack Rhoades, Drew is convinced he has the support his program needs to continue to thrive. Baylor plans to start construction on a new $105 million, 7,200-seat basketball fieldhouse in the near future after playing the last 33 seasons at the aging Ferrell Center.

As the entire Baylor family celebrates Drew’s 2021 NCAA National Championship, he is just one example of the outstanding coaches leading our sports programs at Baylor. Through the many ups and downs, common with today’s college athletic programs, Baylor head coaches continue to be Christian men and women who have dedicated their lives to developing our student-athletes into winners on and off the field – Champions for Life. Thank you, Coach Drew for being our coach, for carrying out the mission of Baylor University, and for always believing in the awesome potential of men’s basketball at Baylor. Again, what a great day to be a Baylor Bear!

Sic ‘em Bears!

Walter Abercrombie

Executive Director, Baylor “B” Association

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