University basketball coach explains winning is when players accept Christ

For Basketball Coach Scott Drew, creating a culture where Jesus is the focus is more important that just winning games. 

"All that matters is when I get to those gates, God's not going to say, 'What was your record? How many players did you help get to the pros? How many championships did you win?'", says Coach Drew for the Baylor Bears in a recent video interview. "So at the end of the day, I am making sure [the players] are winning the game of life."

Baylor University is in Waco, Texas, and it's a Christian university. 

"If you have the right foundation and you know that Jesus has a plan for your life, and you trust Him in handling your future, then you can relax and enjoy the game of basketball, you can enjoy the game of life, and at the end of the day winning the game of life is a lot more important than the game."

Drew has been leading the men on the court and pointing them toward Jesus since 2003. 

"Seeing the spiritual growth, guys. Players who accept Christ, players who maybe prayed for the first time with the team, players who get baptized, players who come back and get Bible studies and go to church, and you know that's what's really exciting. Sometimes those victories are not written and talked about in the newspapers or TV, but again, those are the ones that really matter."

The coach is thrilled to be able to combine both his love of sports along with his Christian faith. 

"Baylor University gives you that opportunity. Spiritually we're allowed to have an impact in our players' lives, so many of my coaching friends [that] are devout in their faith are at institutions where they can't. I am a much better husband, father, spiritually I have grown from the staff that we have because we will do coach's bible studies together, and we start every meeting in prayer."

One focus for the team is to think about J.O.Y. Jesus first, others second, yourself last. 

"Everything we do around the program is Christ-centered," Drew says to CBN News. "The great thing is we can prepare champions for life. And that's a spiritual, academic, and character formation in athletics. So, for us to be able to incorporate the spiritual part has been so key and paramount to all our success, and He's blessed us."