Baylor's Scott Drew Likely to Remain Head Coach After Rejecting North Carolina Offer

The long-time Bears coach has strong reasons to stay in Waco despite interest from the Tar Heels

Apr. 6, 2026 at 8:13pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the overlapping elements of a college basketball game, with sharp planes of vibrant blue, orange, and purple hues, conceptually representing the complex factors in Scott Drew's coaching decision.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes coaching decision facing Baylor's Scott Drew, as he weighs his future between the Bears and the storied North Carolina Tar Heels program.Waco Today

Baylor men's basketball head coach Scott Drew was reportedly on North Carolina's radar to fill their head coaching vacancy, but multiple reports indicate Drew has decided to remain in Waco. Drew, who has led the Bears for 23 seasons, has several compelling reasons to stay at his current program rather than make the jump to the storied Tar Heels program.

Why it matters

Drew's decision to stay at Baylor is significant, as the Bears are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 17-17 season. Retaining their long-time coach provides stability and the opportunity to regroup, while North Carolina must now look elsewhere to find their next leader.

The details

Drew was reportedly at the top of North Carolina's list to replace the departed Hubert Davis. However, the Tar Heels are now expected to hire longtime NBA coach Mike Malone instead. For Drew, staying at Baylor makes sense - he recently turned down an offer from Kentucky in 2024, the Bears could return a key star in Tounde Yessoufou, and Drew has built lifetime security and control over the program in Waco that he may not find at North Carolina.

  • In 2024, Drew turned down an offer to become the head coach at Kentucky.
  • On Monday, reports surfaced that North Carolina was set to hire Mike Malone as their next head coach.

The players

Scott Drew

The head coach of the Baylor Bears men's basketball team, who has led the program for 23 seasons since 2003.

Tounde Yessoufou

A rising sophomore guard for the Baylor Bears who had an outstanding freshman season and could return for another year, providing stability for the program.

Cameron Carr

A Baylor Bears guard who is expected to declare for the 2026 NBA Draft after this past season.

Mike Malone

An experienced NBA head coach who is expected to be hired as the next head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Hubert Davis

The former head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, who departed the program after a two-year stint.

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What they’re saying

“Just Rejected Offers to Leave in 2024”

— Scott Drew, Baylor Head Coach

“Drew Wants to Bounce Back From Bad Year”

— Scott Drew, Baylor Head Coach

“Could Only Lose One Star to the Draft”

— Scott Drew, Baylor Head Coach

“Lifetime Security”

— Scott Drew, Baylor Head Coach

What’s next

With Drew remaining at Baylor, the Bears will now look to rebound from their disappointing 2025-26 season and build around potential returning star Tounde Yessoufou. North Carolina, meanwhile, must shift their focus to finding their next head coach after missing out on Drew.

The takeaway

Scott Drew's decision to remain the head coach at Baylor is a significant win for the Bears program, as the long-time coach has built lifetime security and control in Waco that he may not have found at a high-profile program like North Carolina. Drew's commitment to rebuilding Baylor after a tough season, as well as the potential return of a key player, make staying the better long-term decision.