Washburn University men's basketball coach Brett Ballard was seriously injured Tuesday when his Ford F-150 collided with a bridge pillar in Topeka, Kansas. The 46-year-old coach was traveling on I-470 when his vehicle left the roadway, striking a delineator post, the embankment, and then the pillar.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Ballard was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. No further details regarding the incident have been released.
Washburn University President JuliAnn Mazachek issued a statement expressing the university's concern. "We are deeply saddened to share that Coach Brett Ballard was seriously injured in a car accident last evening," Mazachek said. "Our hearts are with Coach Ballard, his family, the men’s basketball program and all who are affected during this difficult time. We ask our community to keep them in their thoughts during this time of recovery and to respect the family’s privacy."
Washburn football coach Zach Watkins also offered well wishes. "Coach Ballard is a great friend of mine and obviously what he has done for Washburn and, you know, who he is as a person and his family," Watkins stated. "But [I] texted his wife this morning and got the latest information and we prayed for him here as a team before practice and, you know, our thoughts are with him and his family."
Ballard, a former Kansas men's basketball player, was part of the Jayhawks team that reached the Final Four and won the Big 12 in 2002. He played for Kansas during the 2001-02 season, appearing in 32 games.
In his eight seasons as head coach at Washburn, Ballard has compiled a record of 167-79 and led the team to five NCAA Division II tournaments. The 2024-25 season was his most successful, with Washburn finishing 30-4 and reaching the Final Four.