Coaching The Whole Player: Blueprint for Success at Washburn | Brett Ballard

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 yearCome support the Washburn basketball program and check out our summer camps for boys and girls in grades 2-8 at wusports.com/camps!________________________________________0:00 - Coach Ballard's Introduction8:47 - From Player to Coach at KU16:36 - Building Excellence at Washburn32:58 - Preparing Players for Life Beyond Basketball43:08 - The Reading and Leadership Philosophy50:58 - Responding to Player Challenges57:30 - Last Season's Success and Future Goals 1:06:06 - Challenges of Coaching Today's Generation________________________________________Beyond the Podcast: 🎙️Be sure to follow our Topeka Insider Socials below and check out our website for additional stories and articles pertaining to Topeka, KSWebsite -- https://topekainsider.com/Facebook --- https://www.facebook.com/topekainsiderInstagram -- https://www.instagram.com/topekainsiderFollow Your Hosts: 📱Follow both Justin & Jon on their personal socials to get connected. They would love to connect and answer any questions about the show or their day to day.Jon Griffith's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/thejongriffith/Justin Armbruster's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/armbruster_jdFor Any Inquiries, please DM @TopekaInsider on Instagram!