Brad Stevens facts for kids
Stevens as Boston Celtics head coach in 2017
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| Boston Celtics | |
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| President of basketball operations | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 22, 1976 Zionsville, Indiana, U.S. |
| High school | Zionsville (Zionsville, Indiana) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Career information | |
| College | DePauw (1995–1999) |
| Coaching career | 2001–2021 |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| As coach: | |
| 2001–2007 | Butler (assistant) |
| 2007–2013 | Butler |
| 2013–2021 | Boston Celtics |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As coach:
As executive:
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Bradley Kent Stevens (born October 22, 1976) is an American basketball expert. He used to be a coach and is now the president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics. This means he helps run the team and makes big decisions about players.
Brad grew up in Zionsville, Indiana. He was a star basketball player at Zionsville Community High School, setting many school records. After high school, he played basketball at DePauw University and studied economics. He was a great student-athlete. Brad started coaching after leaving his job at a company called Eli Lilly and Company. He began as a volunteer at Butler University for the basketball team in 2000. The next year, he became a full-time assistant coach.
In 2007, Brad became the head coach for Butler. He was only 30 years old! In his first year, he led Butler to 30 wins. This made him one of the youngest coaches in NCAA Division I history to achieve so many wins. In 2010, Brad's team made it to the Final Four for the first time ever. They almost won the national championship, losing by just two points to Duke. The next year, his team made it to the Final Four again! This made him the youngest coach to reach two Final Fours.
In 2013, Brad became the head coach for the Boston Celtics in the NBA. He led the Celtics to the NBA playoffs almost every year. He was known as one of the best coaches in the NBA. In 2021, Brad changed roles. He became the president of basketball operations for the Celtics. In 2024, he was named the NBA Executive of the Year. Later that year, the Celtics won the NBA championship under his leadership as an executive!
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Growing Up with Basketball
Brad Stevens loved basketball from a young age. When he was five, he would watch taped basketball games before kindergarten! His dad often took him to watch Indiana Hoosiers games. Brad said it's hard not to love basketball when you grow up in Indiana.
For his eighth birthday, Brad got a new basketball hoop. He spent hours dreaming and playing in his driveway. When his friend Brandon Monk got a basketball court, Brad was always there. He was so dedicated that he would bring ingredients for grilled cheese sandwiches to Monk's house. This way, he wouldn't waste time waiting for food!
These games helped Brad become very competitive. Besides playing, he also enjoyed solving puzzles. This skill later helped him analyze opposing teams to find their weaknesses.
High School Star
Brad went to Zionsville Community High School. He became a star basketball player, wearing No. 31 to honor Indiana Pacers guard Reggie Miller. He practiced shooting early in the morning before school. This hard work paid off. He made the varsity team as a freshman.
By the end of high school, Brad set school records for:
- Career scoring
- Assists
- Steals
- Three-point field goals
As of 2017, he still holds records for points per game (26.8), total points (1508), assists (444), and steals (156). He was named to the all-conference team three times. Brad was also a great student, graduating seventh in his class. He played basketball, track, and baseball. In the summers, he played AAU basketball across the country.
College Days
Brad played basketball at DePauw University. He played in all 101 games during his four years. He won many awards for his playing and his academics. He was a team captain in his senior year. Brad scored more than eight points per game in three of his four years. His best game included 24 points and eight rebounds.
At DePauw, Brad was part of special honors programs. He also helped with Butler basketball camps in the summers. He graduated in 1999 with a degree in economics.
Becoming a College Coach
In 2000, Brad got a chance to volunteer in the Butler basketball office. He talked to his girlfriend (now wife), Tracy Wilhelmy, about quitting his job at Eli Lilly and Company. She told him to go for it! Tracy started law school to make sure they had a stable income if coaching didn't work out.
Brad planned to live in a friend's basement and work at a restaurant. But before he started, he was offered a low-paying job as a basketball operations coordinator under coach Thad Matta. Matta later said Brad was "a hungry young kid that was desperate to get into coaching."
When Matta left in 2001, new head coach Todd Lickliter promoted Brad to a full-time assistant coach. Brad helped with everything: teaching skills, preparing for games, coaching during games, and finding new players. Butler had a great record of 131 wins and 61 losses while Brad was an assistant.
Named Head Coach at Butler
On April 2, 2007, Coach Lickliter left Butler. The players asked the athletic director, Barry Collier, to promote one of the assistant coaches. Collier agreed, and Brad Stevens, at 30 years old, became Butler's new head coach. Collier said Brad had six years of experience learning "The Butler Way", which was a big advantage.
First Season: 2007–08
Brad was the second-youngest coach in Division I basketball. He started strong, winning his first eight games. Legendary coach Bob Knight praised his team's smart play. The New York Times said Brad made coaching look easy, showing calm and composure.
Butler finished the regular season with a 27–3 record. They won their league tournament and made it to the NCAA tournament. They won their first game but lost in the second round. Brad ended his first year with 30 wins, a school record! He became the third-youngest coach in NCAA Division I history to get 30 wins in a season.
Second Season: 2008–09
Butler lost four starting players, and many thought they wouldn't do well. But they started with a 12–1 record. Brad got his 50th win in February, becoming one of only six coaches to reach 50 wins in 56 games or fewer. Butler finished first in their league again. They made it to the NCAA tournament but lost in the first round. Brad was named the Horizon League Coach of the Year.
Third Season: 2009–10
With talented players like Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack, Butler was ranked high at the start of the season. After a few losses, Brad rallied the team. They won 16 games in a row! Brad tied the NCAA record for most wins (81) by a coach in his first three seasons.
Butler finished with an amazing 18–0 undefeated record in their conference. They also won the league tournament, making it 20–0 in league play. Brad was the only coach in Division I to lead his team to an undefeated conference season that year.
NCAA Tournament Run
Butler was seeded fifth in the NCAA tournament. They won their first game against UTEP. Then, they had a very close win against Murray State. Brad's team then faced top-seeded Syracuse. Butler started strong and held on to win, reaching the Elite Eight for the first time!
Two days later, they beat Kansas State in another close game. This win sent Butler to the Final Four in Indianapolis! Brad, at 33, became the youngest coach to lead a team to the Final Four since 1973. Butler was also the smallest school to make the Final Four since 1979.
National Championship Game
In the Final Four, Butler faced Michigan State. It was a tough, defensive game, but Butler won 52–50. This meant they were going to the National Championship game!
On April 5, 2010, Butler played against Duke. It was a very exciting game. Neither team had a big lead. In the final seconds, Gordon Hayward's shot to win the game just missed. Duke won 61–59.
Even though they lost, Butler became the smallest school to play for a National Championship since 1970. Brad became the second-youngest coach to lead a team to the NCAA National Championship Game.
After the 2010 Season
After their amazing run, Brad and Butler got a lot of attention. Then-U.S. President Barack Obama called Brad to congratulate him. Brad even appeared on David Letterman's show! Butler saw a huge increase in interest from students wanting to apply. Brad said it was "very surreal" and "a little overwhelming."
Second Straight Final Four: 2010–11
Many thought Butler would be a top team again, but Gordon Hayward left early for the NBA draft. Butler had a tough start to the season. But they improved a lot, especially their defense. They won a share of their conference title and then the league tournament.
Butler was the No. 8 seed in the NCAA tournament. They won several close games, including a dramatic finish against Pitt. They beat Florida in overtime to reach the Final Four for the second year in a row! They then beat VCU to make it to a second straight National Championship game. However, they lost again, this time to Connecticut.
Loyalty to Butler
After these successful seasons, Brad signed a long-term contract with Butler. Many bigger schools offered him multi-million dollar contracts, but he stayed. Brad said, "First and foremost, I'm loyal to Butler." He often said he was very happy at Butler and had no plans to leave.
NBA Coaching Career
On July 3, 2013, Brad Stevens was hired as the head coach of the Boston Celtics. In his second season, he led the team to the playoffs. He finished fourth in the voting for the NBA's Coach of the Year Award. In his third season, the Celtics made the playoffs again.
Brad was named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month twice. In 2017, he was chosen to be the Eastern Conference head coach for the 2017 NBA All-Star Game. In his fourth season, he led the Celtics to be the top team in the Eastern Conference. They reached the Eastern Conference Finals but lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In 2017, Brad was reunited with his former college player, Gordon Hayward, who signed with the Celtics. The 2017–18 season was challenging. Star players like Isaiah Thomas and Kyrie Irving were traded or injured. Despite this, Brad led the Celtics to 55 wins and another trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. He was considered a top candidate for NBA Coach of the Year.
Executive Career
On June 2, 2021, Brad Stevens became the president of basketball operations for the Celtics. This meant he would now manage the team's players and overall strategy, instead of coaching games. He replaced Danny Ainge, who retired.
One of his first big moves was trading Kemba Walker for Al Horford and Moses Brown. This helped the Celtics save money and improve their team. Brad then hired Ime Udoka as the new head coach. In Udoka's first year, and Brad's first as an executive, the Celtics had a great season. They reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010! However, they lost to the Golden State Warriors.
In 2022, the Celtics suspended Coach Udoka for violating team rules. Brad then named assistant coach Joe Mazzulla as the interim head coach. In 2023, Mazzulla became the permanent head coach. The Celtics continued to play well under Mazzulla.
On April 30, 2024, Brad Stevens was named the NBA Executive of the Year for the 2023–24 season. The Celtics had an amazing playoff run, sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. They then beat the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals, giving Brad his first NBA Championship as an executive!
Coaching Style
Brad Stevens is known for being very calm and focused during games. He rarely raises his voice or gets emotional. He believes that a calm coach helps the team stay calm in tough situations. He likes to focus on "the next play" instead of dwelling on mistakes. Former players say he uses "positive reinforcement" to help them. Brad wants his players to be confident and not afraid of making mistakes.
Even though he seems calm, Brad is very competitive. His wife, Tracy, says he's "fiercely competitive" and always thinking about how to win.
Brad spends a lot of time preparing for each game. He studies opponents to find their weaknesses. He also uses statistical analysis to help make coaching decisions. He even hired someone just for statistical research!
Brad's teams are built on strong basketball basics and teamwork. They are known for their defense, forcing opponents to make mistakes. He believes in "The Butler Way," which means doing all the little things that make a good team great. He recruits players who are strong team players, not just top individual talents.
Many people call Brad a "coaching prodigy." But he is humble and gives credit to his players and mentors. He is not interested in self-promotion or chasing more money. He has been described as modest and not "about the money."
Experts like The New York Times and ESPN say Butler's success against bigger teams was due to Brad's coaching style. They said his teams were well-prepared and didn't get rattled easily. Yahoo! Sports even compared him to legendary coach John Wooden.
Brad also cares about mental health. He brought in experts to talk to his players about wellness.
Personal Life
Brad Stevens is known for his professional look. He met his wife, Tracy Wilhelmy, at DePauw University. Tracy played soccer. She quickly learned about Brad's love for basketball; on their third date, he drove her an hour and a half to a high school basketball game!
Tracy graduated from law school and works as a labor and employment lawyer. She also acts as Brad's agent. Brad and Tracy have two children, Kinsley and Brady. Their son, Brady, plays basketball at Notre Dame.
Brad and Tracy are involved with the American Cancer Society's Coaches Vs. Cancer program. This cause is very important to them because Tracy's mother died of cancer in 2004. Brad also volunteers for the Jukes Foundation for Kids, which helps children in Uganda.
Brad stays in touch with his former Butler players. He even took a break from coaching the Celtics to visit Andrew Smith, a player from his Final Four teams who was dying of cancer. Brad gave the eulogy at Andrew's memorial service.
Brad's father, Mark, is an orthopedic surgeon who played college football for Indiana. His mother, Jan, is a university professor.
Awards and Honors
NBA
- 2017 NBA All-Star Game Head Coach
- 2024 NBA Executive of the Year
- 2024 NBA Champion (as Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations)
NCAA
- Two-time Horizon League Coach of the Year (2009, 2010)
- Three-time Undisputed Horizon League Champion (regular season and conference tournament - 2008, 2010, 2011 as head coach at Butler)
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See also
In Spanish: Brad Stevens para niños
- List of NCAA Division I Men's Final Four appearances by coach
