Brett Ballard New Washburn Men's BB Head Coach
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@BShark that’s awesome!
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Interesting. I am curious…is a HC position for a Division II school better than and Assistant Coach position at an Elite conference school? Being from Hutchinson, it brings Ballard close to home and Alma Mater KU. Hopefully it is a steeping stone to a bigger position down the road. Best of luck to him; I imagine we will see him coaching court side at AFH in the near future.
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Yeah. Next season is Hays and Pitt. Then after that ESU and Washburn again.
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@JayHawkFanToo I don’t think a D-II head job is better. But getting that job, doing well, then landing a big time D-1 assistant job could be the progress he hopes for. Good to see a KU guy get the job.
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But he was a D-1 assistant coach at Wake Forest, which as a member of the ACC would be considered, not necessarily an elite, but a big time program, don’t you think? Like I said, I am not sure one way or the other, but I do believe being close to home and KU might have played a part…maybe an assistant coach position at KU down the road?
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Depends on his goals. He could end up being a D2 lifer like Chipman, being content with that level while helping turn kids into quality members of society. I have no idea what he wants out of his coaching career though of course.
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he still is fairly young, 37 I believe? So he still has plenty of time to move up.
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A D2 coach has a lot more stability in their personal life. There are lots of D2 coaches at moderately successful programs that can stay for 15-20 years. That’s not happening at the D1 level unless you are really good at a strong program.
I don’t know Ballard’s situation, but if he has a wife and kids, he could legitimately raise his family in Topeka without ever worrying about moving during their entire school career. I am pretty sure that wouldn’t be the case if he stayed as a D1 assistant or made the jump to D1 coach.
Not saying Ballard doesn’t want that. Maybe he does. Just saying that there’s more out there, like @BShark said if he doesn’t want that.
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Wife and 3 kids.
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@BShark He will get to coach against Boshee at MSSU.
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@JayHawkFanToo Right … sorry. My “big time” was meaning a top program and you clearly said elite conference. I would think that maybe the head job might be better, particularly with that D-1 asst. job on the resume already. If the D-1 assist job isn’t on the resume already, maybe not.
