Craig Smith fired: 5 Utah basketball head coach candidates
Bryce Drew
Drew has already held a high-major head-coaching job during his career and increasingly seems deserving of another chance. Drew, a former player at Valparaiso who hit an in the 1998 NCAA Tournament, began his coaching career at his alma mater in 2005 following a brief playing career in the NBA and overseas. He eventually became head coach at Valpo, compiling a 124-49 record across six seasons. Drew’s stint as a head coach at Vanderbilt didn’t go quite as well, but he proved capable of recruiting NBA-level talent like Darius Garland and Aaron Nesmith. The 50-year-old has rehabbed his value by leading Grand Canyon to the NCAA Tournament in three of the last four seasons. Despite lacking Utah ties, Drew’s proven success at the collegiate level could make him a nice fit in Salt Lake City.
