Baylor men's basketball coach Drew headlines speakers at coaching clinic

~ The Bears' coach has family ties to Cape Girardeau

Baylor University basketball coach Scott Drew is preparing for a highly anticipated season that has the Bears ranked among the nation's elite teams.

Drew took some time away from his own program to help out another one with the season right around the corner.

He's getting to spend a few days in what basically amounts to his home away from home as an added bonus.

Drew was in Cape Girardeau on Thursday to participate as the featured speaker in the Southeast Missouri State coaching clinic at the Show Me Center, then served as guest of honor at Southeast's season tip-off reception.

All proceeds from the second annual events benefit the Southeast men's basketball program.

"I'm really glad to be here," Drew said late Thursday afternoon after speaking at the clinic and before attending the reception.

Drew has led Baylor to national prominence after the program had been reeling from a scandal and NCAA sanctions. The Bears made three consecutive postseason appearances from 2007 through 2010, including a berth in the 2009 NIT championship game and a berth in the 2010 NCAA tournament Elite Eight.

Drew, who turns 41 this month, has a 127-116 record entering his ninth season at Baylor. The 2011-12 Bears return four starters from an 18-13 team and have added a top-20 recruiting class.

Perry Jones III enters the year as an All-American candidate and projected lottery pick in the 2012 NBA draft.

"We're excited for this year," Drew said. "We have very high expectations."

Drew is very familiar with Cape Girardeau. His wife, the former Kelly Schwab, was born here and her parents still reside here.

"We actually got married here 11 years ago," Drew said. "Cape is great. I love coming back. I used to come a lot more when we were dating. Since I took over at Baylor, I've been so busy."

Drew said his wife and their three young children, ranging in age from 7 months to 7 years, accompanied him to Cape Girardeau. They will spend the weekend here.

"There are a lot of great restaurants here. We'll be the loud family in the restaurant," Drew said with a laugh.

Drew, like Southeast coach Dickey Nutt, is from a coaching family. Drew's father, St. Louis native Homer Drew, was a longtime successful coach at Valparaiso, where Scott assisted him for nearly a decade. Bryce Drew, Scott's brother, succeeded their father at Valparaiso this year.

"I've known coach Nutt and his family. Both families have always had a lot of respect for each other," Scott Drew said. "The Cape Girardeau community is lucky to have coach Nutt here. He'll do a great job with the program."

Nutt was excited that Drew took the time to help out Southeast's program.

"Scott Drew has done a tremendous job at Baylor. It's very special to have him here," said Nutt, whose first coaches clinic and reception last year featured Kansas coach Bill Self.

Arkansas-Little Rock assistant Joe Kleine and McKendree (Ill.) coach Harry Statham joined Drew, along with Nutt, as keynote speakers at the daylong clinic attended by more than 50 coaches from throughout the region.

Kleine played in the NBA for 15 seasons. He won an NBA title with the Bulls in 1998 and also earned a gold medal with the 1984 U.S. Olympic team.

Statham holds the record for most wins by a men's basketball coach at a four-year college or university. He enters his 46th season at McKendree with 1,043 victories.

"It was a great day of basketball. This is a great time of the year," Nutt said. "It's a chance for us to mingle with the high school coaches. And I can't say enough about Scott Drew, Joe Kleine and Harry Statham for helping make this event special."

More than 200 people were expected to attend the evening reception.

"It's a tremendous day for Southeast basketball. This is an important part of our program and the support has been tremendous," said Nutt, whose squad begins official practice Oct. 14.