Reports: Vanderbilt to hire Bryce Drew

Vanderbilt is expected to hire Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew as its new basketball coach, according to numerous reports.

Sports Illustrated first reported that Vanderbilt and Drew were working out an agreement for him to replace Kevin Stallings, who took the Pittsburgh job a week ago after 17 seasons with the Commodores, leaving as the program’s all-time winningest coach.

Vanderbilt has not confirmed Drew’s hiring, and no press conference has been scheduled. A source with direct knowledge of the situation told USA Today a deal wasn’t finalized and nothing was signed yet, but it’s “heading that way.”

Drew’s name was not prominently mentioned among the early possible candidates, but reports of Vanderbilt’s interest in the 41-year-old picked up after Valparaiso’s season ended in the NIT championship game last week.

5 Vanderbilt questions for Bryce Drew

Drew would be the 27th coach in Vanderbilt basketball’s 115-year history, but only the second since 1999, when Stallings started the Commodores’ longest tenure.

Drew has a 124-49 record in five seasons at Valparaiso, including two NCAA Tournament trips and two NIT appearances. Valparaiso went 30-7 this season, the most wins in program history, and lost to George Washington 76-60 in the NIT title game.

The Crusaders have dominated the Horizon League for most of Drew’s tenure, posting a 65-19 conference mark with four regular-season titles and two tournament championships in five years. Before that, he was an assistant coach and standout player at Valparaiso.

Since taking over as Valparaiso coach, Drew has been sought after for jobs at Mississippi State, Tulsa, DePaul and Iowa State, according to The Northwest Indiana Times. He signed a 10-year contract in 2013, but no buyout information is available.

Drew comes from a well-known coaching family. He played for his father, Homer Drew, the longtime coach at Valparaiso. Bryce’s brother, Scott Drew, is the current coach at Baylor.

5 questions for Vanderbilt basketball next season

As a player, Drew is best known for making the buzzer-beating shot to upset Ole Miss in the 1998 NCAA Tournament, which ultimately propelled Valparaiso to a Sweet 16 run. Drew was the 1994 Indiana Mr. Basketball in high school, then Valparaiso’s all-time leading scorer, the two-time Mid-Continent Conference Player of the Year and a six-year NBA veteran.

Reach Adam Sparks at 615-259-8010 and on Twitter @AdamSparks.

Bryce Drew file

Coach: Head coach at Valparaiso since 2011 and assistant coach from 2005-11.

Player: Indiana Mr. Basketball in 1994. Two-time Mid-Continent Conference Player of the Year (1997 and 1998). Valparaiso’s all-time leading scorer (2,142 points). Six-year NBA career with Rockets, Bulls and Hornets.

Postseason: In five years as a head coach, Drew has made appearances in two NCAA Tournaments, two NITs and one CIT. He played in three NCAA Tournaments, including the 1998 Sweet 16.

Other accolades: Three-time Horizon League Coach of the Year (2012, 2015, 2016); Won 1998 ESPY Award for his buzzer-beating 3-point shot to defeat Ole Miss in the NCAA Tournament.

Notable: Bryce Homer Drew is named after his father, Homer, the longtime Valparaiso coach. Bryce’s brother, Scott, is Baylor’s coach.

Vanderbilt basketball coaches

Coaching records since 1948

Coach (Years): Record

Kevin Stallings (2000-16): 332-220

Jan van Breda Koff (1994-99): 104-81

Eddie Fogler (1990-93): 81-48

C.M. Newton (1982-89): 129-115

Richard Schmidt (1980-81): 28-27

Wayne Dobbs (1977-79): 38-42

Roy Skinner (1959, 1962-76): 278-135

Bob Polk (1948-58, 1960-61): 197-106