Brett Ballard, Wayne Simien to coach against each other at Rock Chalk Roundball Classic
Jordan Guskey
LAWRENCE — Washburn basketball coach Brett Ballard has been involved in the Rock Chalk Roundball Classic in the past, more recently playing in it.
Ballard, who added the caveat that he really didn’t do too much playing, has had fun and been humbled by being a part of the charity basketball event that brings together former Kansas basketball players and more. Ballard, who played for the Jayhawks under Roy Williams, enjoys doing his part to support families that deal with pediatric cancer or other challenging illnesses. Ballard praised the work Brian Hanni, who organizes the event, does to put it all together.
To be a part of it and see the kids fighting their battles, Ballard said recently, “Tugs at your heartstrings.” When he’s come face-to-face with them and their families, he remembers it being pretty emotional. It’s also always been cool for him, to see the support Kansas fans provide and the passion they show.
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But this year, while Ballard will be involved in the Rock Chalk Roundball Classic again, on Thursday at Lawrence Free State High School he won’t do so as an athlete. No, in the 14th-ever edition of the event he’ll be one of the head coaches. And the other will be a teammate of his from the Jayhawks’ 2002 Final Four team, Wayne Simien.
“Can’t wait to see these longtime friends and former teammates now square off on the sidelines,” Hanni said this past week. “Some playful trash-talk has already begun between those two, all in good fun. But I really hope that, whether you’re an Ichabod reading this today or a Jayhawk fan, you come out and support coach Ballard and see if all that great momentum he’s built in the capital city can carry over to Lawrence on June the 9th.”
Hanni explained that the event wanted to shake things up a bit this year, and that’s how they landed on Ballard and Simien coaching against each other. Although Hanni said Ballard will be armed with some NBA talent, Simien will have talent at his disposal as well. Hanni is eager to see the sideline antics that’ll go on between the two of them.
Ballard explained that he and Simien have been texting, and that there might be a lunch on the line for whoever comes away with the victory. Ballard already gives Simien a hard time, jokingly, because of how Simien — a big in college — coaches an AAU team that Ballard has a son on. Maybe this’ll be another opportunity for Ballard to tell Simien the guards should be taking more 3s, and for Simien to want the ball to go inside more.
Regardless, Ballard said this’ll be the first time the two have had the chance to do something like this. He laughed, when asked if he’s in a position to guarantee a victory against Simien. Ballard noted how, at that time, he didn’t know his roster yet and they wouldn’t have the ability to practice beforehand.
“I will say this, if I got a couple practices with our guys, I’d feel really, really good about guaranteeing that because I feel like I’d have an advantage over Wayne,” Ballard said. “But, no, I’m joking. No, I don’t know. We’ll see. We’ll see. Hopefully we can get it done, but the biggest thing — I just want to go out there and obviously have fun, put on a show for the fans.”
Ballard has enjoyed being able to reconnect with Simien, since Ballard returned to the area as Washburn’s head coach in 2017. He sees Simien as the same guy Simien’s always been, someone who’s humble, comfortable in their own skin and treats others well. Not only does Ballard have a son Simien is coaching, but Ballard added that there have been times when Simien’s kids have come to the camps Ballard runs.
Ballard’s excited to see Simien involved on the administrative side of Kansas Athletics. Simien is an associate athletic director for engagement and outreach. As a former player and someone who knows Simien, Ballard thinks that’s beneficial for everyone.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.