Former Kansas men’s basketball player and current Washburn University coach Brett Ballard was seriously injured Tuesday after his Ford F-150 hit a bridge pillar in Topeka, Kan.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Ballard’s car left the roadway on I-470 along the Kansas turnpike before hitting a delineator post, the embankment and the pillar.
The 46-year-old was wearing a seatbelt, according to reports. No other details on the situation have been provided.
Washburn President JuliAnn Mazachek released a statement after the crash.
“We are deeply saddened to share that Coach Brett Ballard was seriously injured in a car accident last evening,” Mazacheck 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.
“The university will share additional information when appropriate.”
Washburn football coach Zach Watkins also sent Ballard 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 said. “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. When something happens to your family, it affects you and so we’re getting off the practice field and going to see what we can do to help right now and praying for him.”
Before becoming Washburn’s coach, Ballard played at Kansas for a year in 2001-02, appearing in 32 games and starting one.
Ballard was on a Jayhawks team that made the Final Four in 2002 and won the Big 12.
With Washburn, he’s compiled a 167-79 record over eight seasons and made five NCAA Division II tournaments.
His best season was in 2024-25, when Washburn went 30-4 and made the Final Four.
