Former Kansas Jayhawks guard Brett Ballard seriously injured in single-vehicle highway crash

A beloved Kansas assemblage hoops manager and erstwhile Jayhawks standout is successful the infirmary with superior injuries aft a road clang Tuesday night.

Washburn University caput manager Brett Ballard, 46, was down the instrumentality of his 2024 Ford F-150 erstwhile the clang occurred.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Ballard was traveling westbound connected Interstate 470 successful Topeka conscionable aft 8:15 p.m. erstwhile his pickup motortruck veered disconnected the near broadside of the roadway.

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Brett Ballard of Kansas walks disconnected the tribunal arsenic Maryland players observe successful the inheritance aft the semifinal circular of the NCAA Men's Final Four astatine the Georgia Dome successful Atlanta, Ga., connected March 30, 2002. Maryland defeated Kansas 97-88 and precocious to the title game. (Getty Images)

The motortruck struck a delineator post, traveled into a steep embankment, and past collided with a factual span pillar. The interaction near the conveyance heavy damaged. Ballard was the lone idiosyncratic wrong the truck. First responders transported the injured manager to Stormont Vail Hospital successful Topeka for treatment. Authorities confirmed helium was wearing his seatbelt astatine the clip of the crash.

Washburn University President JuliAnn Mazachek asked the close-knit assemblage to support Ballard and his household successful their thoughts.

"We are profoundly saddened to stock that Coach Brett Ballard was earnestly injured successful a car mishap past evening," Mazachek said successful a statement. "Our hearts are with Coach Ballard, his family, the men's hoops programme and each who are affected during this hard time."

Ballard has agelong been 1 of the astir recognizable figures successful Kansas basketball. The Hutchinson autochthonal played defender for the Kansas Jayhawks from 2000 to 2002 nether Hall of Fame manager Roy Williams earlier spending 7 seasons arsenic an adjunct connected Bill Self's coaching staff.

A Kansas cheerleader waves the schoolhouse emblem arsenic the squad enters the tribunal earlier the commencement of the crippled during the NCAA men's hoops tourney astatine the Kohl Center successful Madison, Wis., connected March 24, 2002. Kansas bushed Oregon 104-86 to beforehand to the Final Four successful Atlanta, Ga. (Getty Images)

Head manager Roy Williams celebrates arsenic Kansas players chopped down the nett aft beating Oregon during the NCAA men's hoops tourney astatine the Kohl Center successful Madison, Wis. The Jayhawks won 104-86 to beforehand to the Final Four successful Atlanta, Ga. (Getty Images)

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For the past 9 seasons, Ballard has led the Washburn Ichabods, gathering 1 of Division II's astir accordant programs.

Ballard has compiled a 198-81 wide grounds portion guiding Washburn to aggregate NCAA Tournament appearances and helping found the Ichabods arsenic a perennial contender successful the MIAA.

Before taking implicit astatine Washburn, Ballard besides gained caput coaching acquisition astatine Baker University, wherever helium led the Wildcats to a Heart of America Athletic Conference regular-season title and an NAIA nationalist tourney appearance.

Ballard's occurrence astatine each halt has made him a respected fig passim the state's hoops community. As connection of the clang spread, supporters crossed Kansas and beyond shared messages of encouragement portion hoping for affirmative quality regarding his recovery.

Authorities person not released further details astir what caused the crash, and the probe remains ongoing.

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