Report: Scott Drew earned $1.7 million in bonuses following Baylor's 2021 national championship

Baylor head men’s basketball coach Scott Drew earned $1.7 million in bonuses and $5.1 million in total compensation in 2021, according to USA Today’s Steve Berkowitz — the same year the Bears were crowned national champions. Berkowitz pulled these figures from federal tax filings.

Because Baylor is a private university and therefore not subject to Texas freedom of information laws, thus the delay in learning the compensation total for Drew. But, as a registered nonprofit, Baylor is required to file certain tax forms and information with the IRS, such as a 990.

Baylor publishes its own 990s and the 990 for the period from June 2021 to May 2022 breaks down the salary and bonuses for Drew.

Drew made $3,284,490 in base salary with $1,739,167 in bonuses. Add in a shade more than $100,000 in other income and Drew was paid $5,132,821.

The 2020-21 Baylor team that won the national championship tore through the regular season. The Bears went 13-1 in the Big 12 and entered the conference tournament with a 21-1 overall record. After a win in the first game of the conference tournament, Baylor picked up a second loss and wouldn’t lose again. After two relatively smooth wins in the Round of 64 and 32, the Bears were challenged by Villanova (11-point win) and Arkansas (nine-point win) in the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight, respectively, but prevailed.

Then, in the Final Four and national championship game, the Bears romped. A 78-59 win over Houston in the Final Four was capped with a 16-point victory over Gonzaga to win the title.

All told, Baylor went 28-2, won the Big 12 regular season title and the national championship. Money well spent for the Bears.

Eventual National Coach of the Year Jerome Tang was an assistant for that Baylor team

Tang, who took over for Kansas State this season, led the Wildcats to an Elite Eight with an almost entirely overhauled roster. And after beating his former boss and mentor, Tang elicited a vote for coach of the year from Drew.

“First of all, Coach Tang should be National Coach of the Year, period,” Drew said. “I mean, they had two players. They filled the whole roster. They were picked at the bottom. He’ll get my vote and that’s not because he’s my brother. He’s earned it.”

Tang was an assistant at Baylor under Scott Drew from 2003 until 2022 when Kansas State hired him.