Scott Drew autographs booth in Waco restaurant where he shot down Kentucky rumors

Despite the best efforts from Kentucky to lure him away, Scott Drew remained loyal to Baylor this offseason. Now the coach is having some fun with one of the stranger stories that emerged out of the Wildcats attempting to persuade him to leave for Lexington.

Amid rumors that Drew was on a flight to Kentucky last week, the coach posted a photo of himself at Mi Casita — a Mexican restaurant in Waco — confirming he was still in the Lone Star State. That led to one UK fan reportedly tracking down the number for the restaurant and calling to ask the waitress to tell Drew “We need you in Lexington.”

Now having committed to staying with the Bears, Drew returned to that same restaurant on Wednesday. There the same photo was displayed in the booth where he sat that day with “Drew’s table” written underneath. The coach posted a video of himself signing his name on the booth, adding a “Sic ‘Em Bears” for good measure.

#RespectMyDecision 🤣 pic.twitter.com/5FlAz61hUX

— Scott Drew (@BUDREW) April 17, 2024

Drew will now return to Baylor for his 22nd season at the helm. He is the winningest coach in program history with a record of 446-224, having directed the Bears to their first national championship in the 2020-21 season.

Drew has led Baylor to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, one Final Four, two Elite Eights and four Sweet Sixteens. He has been named the Big 12 Coach of the Year three times and claimed the conference regular season title in back-to-back seasons (2021, 2022).

Baylor is coming off of a 24-11 finish this past season that earned them a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately, their season ended with a loss to Clemson in the second round.

Drew has spent all but one season of his head coaching career in Waco and it seems not even a blue blood program can convince him to leave the place he’s made home. As the 53-year-old prepares to lead the Bears into another year, his signature at the booth will serve as a reminder of his commitment to the team and city.

Scott Drew releases statement on decision to stay at Baylor

After CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander reported that Drew would remain in Waco, the coach released a statement via X.

“In our program, we strive to put Jesus first, then others, then ourselves,” Drew said. “We truly believe God has called my family and I continue our work here at Baylor, surrounded by the best people and community anyone could be blessed to have. We are grateful for the support of Mack Rhoades, President Livingstone and the entire Baylor Family, and we look forward to working together to bring more championships to Waco. #JOY.”