Big East: DePaul Needs To Hire Bryce Drew

There’s no reason for DePaul not to be one of the best programs in the Big East and college basketball in general. The Blue Demons are nestled in the heart of Chicago, one of the most fertile grounds to recruit for college basketball in the nation.

That’s why there’s one thing DePaul needs to do right now. After firing Oliver Purnell from the head coaching job, the DePaul administration needs to hire Valparaiso head coach Bryce Drew.

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There are other notable choices in the rumored coaching search such as Bobby Hurley and Ben Howland (prior to him taking the Mississippi State head coaching job). However, no one will be able to provide exactly what DePaul needs much like Drew would be able to.

There once was a stability with DePaul and head coaches. It started with Ray Meyer who made the Final Four in his first year in 1942-43. He coached from that season until 1983-84 when his son Joey took control. The younger Meyer was in charge of the DePaul program until 1997, a ridiculous 55 years of stability and success.

Since then there’s been four head coaches with Dave Leitao having the best success going 22-10 and reaching the NCAA tournament second round. Now, it’s on to coach No. 5 and it’s never been more important to hire the right guy.

All DePaul has to do is look 60 miles southeast, barely cross the Indiana border and offer the job to Drew. The Valparaiso head coach screams stability, something that is desperately needed. He is arguably the best known for hitting The Shot for Valparaiso in the 1998 NCAA tournament, when the No. 13 Crusaders upset No. 4 Ole Miss thanks to his game-winner.

After his playing career ended Drew went on to work for his father and brother at Valparaiso. His father Homer coached the Crusaders from 1988-2002 and then again from 2003-11. The only reason he took a year off was because Scott became the head coach before accepting the Baylor job. Sounds awfully familiar to a situation at DePaul?

Since Bryce took over in 2011 the Crusaders are 94-42, including this year’s team that went 28-6 and suffered a heartbreaking first-round loss to Maryland in the NCAA tournament. For comparison sake the program went 117-108 in the seven years before he took over.

A coach with experience winning in the Midwest? Couldn’t be a more perfect fit for the DePaul situation. On top of that Drew is only 40 years old, something that can resonate with a recruit as Drew is more likely to speak the language of an 18- to 22-year-old compared to someone in their 60s.

Speaking of recruiting, take a quick look at Drew’s staff at Valparaiso. Sitting on the bench with him is Roger Powell, who was an all-state selection at Joliet before becoming known across for the country as part of one of the best teams in recent memory, leading Illinois to the title game in 2005. You’re telling me these two guys couldn’t keep more key players closer to home in Chicago?

Not to mention the fact Bryce Drew played professionally for the Chicago Bulls.

The key to recruiting is setting up shop in Chicago. It’s one of the most sought after recruiting grounds in the country and much like Miami football did in the 1980s, DePaul needs to mark it their territory. Even if a big name like Kentucky comes in to get Anthony Davis, DePaul needs to be sure to get the next guy. That’s the only way the Blue Demons will see a string of success.

The only man who can do that is Bryce Drew.

Next: Kentucky Looks To Win Midwest Region

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