Kansas basketball community rallies around Washburn coach injured in crash

August 7, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Brett Ballard, head basketball coach at Washburn University, was seriously injured in a crash Tuesday night.

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State troopers say Ballard’s car went off the road on I-70 and struck a bridge pillar.

Following the incident, messages of encouragement and prayers for Ballard have poured in from coaches, players, and fans across social media

Andrew Orr, who played four years under Coach Ballard, said he was shocked by the news.

“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.”
Washburn coach Brett Ballard seriously injured after crashing into bridge pillar

During his time playing at Washburn, Orr says 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.

Jacob Hanna, who played at Washburn during the 2024–25 season, says Ballard’s impact is felt all across the state.

“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.”

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. I really can’t speak highly enough about who he is as a person more than anything.”

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