Working on his dream

By Jesse Newell     Mar 16, 2006

Nick Krug
Former KU guard Brett Ballard chats with Moulaye Niang, left, before a game this season in Allen Fieldhouse. Ballard serves as the Jayhawks' administrative assistant/video coordinator, and hopes someday to become a coach.

Brett Ballard waits.

One of these days it will come – his chance to show the world he has what it takes to be a Division I head coach. He hopes it’s not too far away.

Then again, you won’t hear him complain, even if it is.

“I love what I’m doing,” said Ballard, who serves as the administrative assistant/video coordinator for the Kansas University men’s basketball staff. “My ultimate goal is to be a Division I head coach, but that takes time, and I’m in no hurry. I’m going to let things fall as they may. I’m in a great position right now.”

Much like his days as a walk-on from 2000 to 2002, Ballard’s work goes mostly unnoticed by even the most rabid KU fan. His in-season duties include getting videos from other teams and also taping most of the basketball games on TV. This is most important during tournament time, where the team will have as few as two days to prepare before traveling to meet a potential first-round foe.

“I think that people don’t understand the hours he puts in,” Kansas guard Stephen Vinson said. “It seems like he does as much work as anybody as far as staying late and staying after and putting in the hours at night that have made him even more valuable.”

But that’s just where Ballard’s responsibilities begin. The 26-year-old creates team clips for scouting and individual ones for self-improvement purposes. He also coordinates the coach’s clinics in the summer and is the director for the Bill Self basketball camps.

It’s become perhaps the most rewarding part of his job – especially after attending the same Jayhawk basketball camps as a child.

“I try to make it the same experience as I had,” Ballard said. “I learned a lot of basketball skills in camp, and I really enjoy it now. We’re fortunate here in that we get to influence a lot of kids.”

Though Ballard has started to focus his efforts on instructing, he hasn’t completely hung up his gym shoes just yet.

Occasionally, the former guard will suit up for the Jayhawks’ current practices, filling in where he’s needed the most.

“He is a perfect teammate in practice, because the guards don’t have a sub unless he plays,” Vinson said. “There’s some days where we play defense for two hours, and he’s right there to sub in. Every once in awhile he’ll jump in offense as well. You can see that he used to be able to play and that he still can.”

Ballard finished his senior season just four years ago, but said being around the team was beginning to make him feel his age.

“They keep getting younger, and I keep getting older,” Ballard said. “It’s still fun to get out there every once in awhile with the guys. It’s not as much as I used to, but whenever they need it, I get out there.”

As an assistant, Ballard views each home game from a spot on press row. At away contests, he sits on the bench with the team – a place that allows him to coach and learn at the same time.

While he is looking forward to a full-time spot on the bench – wherever that might be – Ballard remains patient and open with his future.

“I know some guys like to have a 10-year plan or a five-year plan. I just don’t know in this profession if you can necessarily do that, because you just don’t know where the cards are going to fall,” Ballard said. “At a school like Kansas, you feel like you could wait a little longer, because you’re in a great position, and you’re learning from great coaches.”

So, Brett Ballard waits.

Eager to move on, yet reluctant to leave.

“The sooner the better, but at the same time, I’m in no rush,” Ballard said. “I understand it takes time and just depends on what jobs open up and who gets a job where. You have to be around successful teams and successful coaches.

“Some of it’s out of my control, but when that opportunity arrives, I’ll definitely take advantage of it.”

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