Butler’s Young Coach

The Butler Bulldogs have become one of the most powerful mid-major programs in the nation over the past decade or so, earning regular NCAA Tournament births with great players, a few famous coaches, and some very loyal fans backing up the team. This year the Bulldogs will be lead by a new coach, who is just 30 years old- the second oldest NCAA D-I basketball coach in the country. The new coach, Brad Stevens, worked under the former coach Collier, and thus comes from a pedigree in the line of Lickliter and Matta. He has the confidence of the athletic director, Barry Collier, who decided to pick Stevens over other assistants and, presumably, many more experienced head coaches looking for a sweet job at a school on the rise.

Collier said of Stevens, “I had basically eight months to interview Brad. By that, I mean I got to observe him with the team in practice, on the road and in games. Age wasn’t a factor because I’d seen his ability shine through during the course of the season.” I’ve never been one to think that age necessarily meant you couldn’t be a good leader. Napoleon was just a few years older than Stevens when he was returning form conquering Egypt, Alexander had taken over most of the know world by his death at age 33- and the same might be said of Jesus of Nazareth.

We at StubHub.com with Stevens luck. You can see him coach by getting Butler Bulldogs basketball tickets.

Permalink - Posted in General on August 6, 2007 - Post a comment