Washburn Coach Brett Ballard Suffers Serious Injuries in Car Accident
On Tuesday, Aug. 4, Washburn University basketball coach Brett Ballard was severely hurt in a car crash. The incident took place at 8:17 p.m. near Topeka, Kansas, on I-470 along the Kansas turnpike. Ballard was driving his Ford F-150 when it veered off the road. The vehicle struck a delineator post, the embankment, and a bridge pillar. Emergency responders arrived quickly and rushed him to Stormont Vail Hospital for medical treatment.
Ballard, who is 46 years old, was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, as reported by local news outlets. However, the cause of the crash has not yet been revealed, and there are no further details about the incident. Authorities from the Kansas Highway Patrol shared the details with KWCH and KSNT, the local news stations that first reported the story.
Dr. JuliAnn Mazachek, president of Washburn University, released a statement to KSNT in response to the accident. She said, “We are deeply saddened to share that Coach Brett Ballard was seriously injured in a car accident last evening.” Mazachek encouraged the university community to support the Ballard family during this difficult time. She also asked that the family’s privacy be respected and promised more updates when available.
Zach Watkins, the head football coach at Washburn, expressed his personal support for Ballard and his family. Watkins shared that he and the team were profoundly affected by the news. Before the day’s practice, the football team prayed for Ballard's recovery. Watkins added, “When something happens to your family, it affects you, so we're getting off the practice field and going to see what we can do to help right now and praying for him.”
Andrew Orr, a former player under Ballard at Washburn, expressed shock and sadness over the accident. “It was heartbreaking is the way I would put it because Coach Ballard does everything the right way,” Orr said. “You never expect it to happen to somebody until it does. I just keep praying that he'll be able to recover and make a full, healthy recovery.” Orr also highlighted Ballard’s character, saying, “I really appreciate who he is as a person. He works extremely hard. He's an amazing father. He's an amazing friend to the people he's close with. It's really sad to see something like this happen, but he's a tough guy. He's a tough S.O.B.”
Ballard has a strong background in basketball. He was a standout player for the University of Kansas Jayhawks, where he played through the 2001 NCAA Sweet Sixteen and the 2002 NCAA Final Four. His athletic career and dedication to the sport have made him well-known in the basketball world.
Jacob Hanna, who played for Washburn during the 2024–25 season, emphasized the widespread support for Ballard. “You can see the outpouring of support from people not only in Topeka, Lawrence, and Wichita, but all over Kansas,” Hanna said. “He's not only a good coach, he's also a good person. I think all the people reaching out really speak to that.”
During his time playing at Washburn, Orr said he appreciated the way he was coached, but Ballard's character is what stood out most. “I really appreciate who he is as a person. He works extremely hard,” Orr said. “He's an amazing father. He's an amazing friend to the people he's close with. It's really sad to see something like this happen, but he's a tough guy. He's a tough S.O.B.”
Ballard's roots are firmly planted in Kansas; he is a Hutchinson native and a former guard with the Jayhawks. Since Ballard began his coaching career in 2003, he has held coaching positions at KU, Baker University, Tulsa, and Wake Forest. Nick Jones, head men's basketball coach at Friends University, coached alongside Ballard at Washburn. He says Ballard's actions off the court are what truly define his character. “He was very influential in me getting the job here at Friends,” Jones said. “That first week, my second son was born, and Coach, his wife, and his family were at my house during the moving process, bringing food over to us.”
As a coach, Ballard has continued to make an impact. During the 2024-25 season, he led the Washburn University men’s basketball team to a 30-4 record, one of the best in the school’s history. His efforts earned the team a place in the Division II Final Four. His leadership has been essential to the team’s success, and his presence has been a source of inspiration for the players and community.