Coach Brett Ballard shares his journey from player to head basketball coach at Washburn University and reveals how he's built a winning program focused on developing players both on and off the court.

• Growing up in Hutchinson, Kansas before becoming a preferred walk-on at KU under Roy Williams
• Volunteering for Bill Self after graduation to get his foot in the coaching door
• Being part of KU's 2008 national championship team as a staff member
• Building Washburn into a program that's reached five NCAA tournaments in seven eligible seasons
• Leading the team to the Division II Final Four this past season
• Creating a culture where players learn life skills alongside basketball development
• Teaching players to handle feedback and criticism - a skill that serves them well beyond basketball
• Recruiting players with strong character foundations from good families
• Explaining the "why" behind coaching decisions to today's generation of players
• Balancing competitiveness with enjoyment of the game
• Excitement about Washburn's $5 million renovation of Lee Arena
• Looking ahead to coaching his son who will attend Washburn next year

Come support the Washburn basketball program and check out our summer camps for boys and girls in grades 2-8 at wusports.com/camps!
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0:00 - Coach Ballard's Introduction
8:47 - From Player to Coach at KU
16:36 - Building Excellence at Washburn
32:58 - Preparing Players for Life Beyond Basketball
43:08 - The Reading and Leadership Philosophy
50:58 - Responding to Player Challenges
57:30 - Last Season's Success and Future Goals 
1:06:06 - Challenges of Coaching Today's Generation
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