Homer Drew Receives Coach Wooden "Keys to Life" Award

NEW ORLEANS -- Former Valparaiso University men's basketball head coach Dr. Homer Drew was honored as the recipient of the 2012 Coach John Wooden “Keys to Life” Award at the annual Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast Saturday morning.

The Keys to Life award, established by sports ministries Athletes in Action and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in 1998, is presented annually to a past or current college or professional basketball player or coach who models the characteristics of UCLA men's basketball coaching legend John Wooden.  Drew won 640 games over his collegiate coaching career, including 371 at Valpo. But more than that, he was honored for instilling in student-athletes and fans alike a mindset of "Building a Tradition," a philosophy proving that character, determination, and faith are higher achievements than winning a game.

The Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast, hosted by Athletes in Action and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is an event honoring upstanding character among basketball coaches and players.  The breakfast, which draws upwards of 1,000 guests annually, featured TNT's Inside the NBA host Ernie Johnson as emcee, as well as former Keys to Life Awardrecipient and CBS college basketball lead analyst Clark Kellogg.  Also in attendance on Saturday were Drew’s three children: sons Bryce (current Valparaiso head coach) and Scott (current Baylor head coach) and daughter Dana [Drew] Shaw.