Brad Stevens facts for kids
Stevens as Boston Celtics head coach in 2017
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| Boston Celtics | |
|---|---|
| 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 executive for the Boston Celtics. He is currently the team's president of basketball operations, which means he makes important decisions about players and the team's future. Before becoming an executive, he was a very successful college and professional coach.
Born in Zionsville, Indiana, Stevens was a star player for his high school basketball team. He later played college basketball at DePauw University, where he studied economics. After college, he worked at a company called Eli Lilly and Company but soon quit to follow his dream of coaching. He started as a volunteer for the basketball team at Butler University.
Stevens became the head coach of Butler in 2007. He quickly became known as one of the best young coaches in the country. In 2010 and 2011, he led the Butler Bulldogs on amazing runs to the NCAA championship game. These "Cinderella story" seasons made Butler famous, even though they lost both championship games.
His success at Butler earned him the head coaching job for the Boston Celtics in the NBA in 2013. He coached the Celtics for eight seasons, leading them to the playoffs many times. In 2021, Stevens was promoted to president of basketball operations. In this role, he built the team that won the NBA championship in 2024.
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Early Life and Love for Basketball
Brad Stevens grew up in Zionsville, Indiana, a state known for its love of basketball. From the age of five, he would watch recordings of basketball games. His dad often took him to see the famous Indiana Hoosiers play.
Stevens was very dedicated to the game. He and his friends spent hours playing on a basketball court in a friend's backyard. He loved the game so much that he would even bring ingredients for sandwiches so he wouldn't have to waste time going home to eat.
High School Star
At Zionsville Community High School, Stevens became a basketball star. He practiced hard, often waking up early to shoot hoops before school. By the time he graduated, he had set school records for scoring, assists, and steals. He was named to the all-conference team three times.
Besides being a great athlete, Stevens was also an excellent student. He was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated near the top of his class.
College Career
Stevens played college basketball at DePauw University. He played in every game during his four years there and was a team captain in his senior year. His coach, Bill Fenlon, described him as a selfless and team-oriented player. In 1999, Stevens graduated with a degree in economics.
College Coaching Career
After college, Stevens worked at a large company called Eli Lilly and Company. But his passion was basketball. In 2000, he decided to quit his job to become a volunteer for the Butler University basketball team. It was a big risk, but he wanted to follow his dream.
He was soon offered a low-paying job as the coordinator of basketball operations. A year later, the new head coach, Todd Lickliter, promoted him to a full-time assistant coach.
Becoming Head Coach at Butler
In 2007, when he was only 30 years old, Stevens was named the new head coach of Butler. The players had asked the athletic director to hire him because they trusted him. In his first year, he led the team to 30 wins, becoming one of the youngest coaches in NCAA Division I history to achieve this.
Over the next few seasons, Stevens continued to have great success. He was named the Horizon League Coach of the Year twice. His teams were known for their smart, team-focused style of play.
The Famous Final Four Runs
The 2009–10 season was magical for Butler. Led by players like Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack, the small university team surprised everyone. They won game after game in the NCAA tournament, beating bigger, more famous schools like Syracuse and Kansas State.
This incredible journey took them all the way to the national championship game. They played against the powerful Duke Blue Devils in a thrilling game. Butler lost by just two points, 61–59, after a last-second shot by Hayward nearly went in.
The next year, Stevens and the Bulldogs did it again. They made another amazing run to the NCAA championship game. Although they lost again, this time to the Connecticut Huskies, Stevens had proven he was a special coach. He became the youngest coach to go to two Final Fours.
NBA Coaching Career with the Boston Celtics
On July 3, 2013, Stevens was hired as the head coach of the famous Boston Celtics. He signed a six-year, $22 million contract. The team was rebuilding, but Stevens quickly made them competitive.
He led the Celtics to the NBA playoffs every season from 2015 to 2021. In 2017, he was named the coach for the NBA All-Star Game in the Eastern Conference. Under his leadership, the Celtics reached the Eastern Conference Finals three times (2017, 2018, and 2020).
Stevens was known for his calm attitude on the sidelines and his smart game plans. Players, fans, and other coaches respected him as one of the best coaches in the NBA.
Executive Career with the Celtics
On June 2, 2021, Stevens was promoted to president of basketball operations for the Celtics. This meant he would no longer be the coach but would be in charge of making decisions about the team's roster and future.
Building a Championship Team
In his new role, Stevens made several key moves. He hired Ime Udoka as the new head coach. He also made important trades to bring players like Al Horford and Derrick White to Boston. In their first year with Stevens as president, the Celtics made it to the 2022 NBA Finals.
The following season, Stevens hired Joe Mazzulla as head coach. He continued to improve the team by trading for star players Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday. These moves created one of the best teams in the league.
In 2024, his hard work paid off. The Celtics had an amazing season and won the 2024 NBA Finals, defeating the Dallas Mavericks. It was Stevens's first NBA championship as an executive. For his success in building the team, he was named the NBA Executive of the Year.
Coaching Style
Stevens is known for his calm and analytical approach to coaching. He rarely yells or gets emotional during games. He believes that if he stays calm, his players will also stay calm in stressful situations.
He is also a big believer in using statistical analysis to make decisions. He studies numbers and game videos to find weaknesses in opposing teams. His teams are known for playing smart, fundamental basketball with a focus on teamwork and strong defense. This style of coaching is often called "The Butler Way," which he brought with him to the Celtics.
Personal Life
Stevens met his wife, Tracy, while they were both students at DePauw University. Tracy was a soccer player and is now a lawyer who also works as his agent. They got married in 2003 and have two children, a daughter named Kinsley and a son named Brady.
Brad and Tracy are involved with the American Cancer Society's Coaches Vs. Cancer program. This cause is important to them because Tracy's mother passed away from the disease. Stevens is known for being a humble and family-oriented person.
Images for kids
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Stevens offers encouragement from the sidelines during a 2008 game.
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Stevens talking with player A. J. Graves during a 2008 game.
Head coaching record
College
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler Bulldogs (Horizon League) (2007–2012) | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | Butler | 30–4 | 16–2 | 1st | NCAA Division I Round of 32 | ||||
| 2008–09 | Butler | 26–6 | 15–3 | 1st | NCAA Division I Round of 64 | ||||
| 2009–10 | Butler | 33–5 | 18–0 | 1st | NCAA Division I Runner-Up | ||||
| 2010–11 | Butler | 28–10 | 13–5 | T–1st | NCAA Division I Runner-Up | ||||
| 2011–12 | Butler | 22–15 | 11–7 | T–3rd | CBI Semifinal | ||||
| Butler Bulldogs (Atlantic 10 Conference) (2012–2013) | |||||||||
| 2012–13 | Butler | 27–9 | 11–5 | T–3rd | NCAA Division I Round of 32 | ||||
| Butler: | 166–49 (.772) | 84–22 (.792) | |||||||
| Total: | 166–49 (.772) | ||||||||
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National champion Conference regular season champion Conference tournament champion |
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NBA
| Regular season | G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win–loss % |
| Playoffs | PG | Playoff games | PW | Playoff wins | PL | Playoff losses | PW–L % | Playoff win–loss % |
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 2013–14 | 82 | 25 | 57 | .305 | 4th in Atlantic | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
| Boston | 2014–15 | 82 | 40 | 42 | .488 | 2nd in Atlantic | 4 | 0 | 4 | .000 | Lost in First round |
| Boston | 2015–16 | 82 | 48 | 34 | .585 | 2nd in Atlantic | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost in First round |
| Boston | 2016–17 | 82 | 53 | 29 | .646 | 1st in Atlantic | 18 | 9 | 9 | .500 | Lost in Conference finals |
| Boston | 2017–18 | 82 | 55 | 27 | .671 | 2nd in Atlantic | 19 | 11 | 8 | .579 | Lost in Conference finals |
| Boston | 2018–19 | 82 | 49 | 33 | .598 | 3rd in Atlantic | 9 | 5 | 4 | .556 | Lost in Conference semifinals |
| Boston | 2019–20 | 72 | 48 | 24 | .667 | 2nd in Atlantic | 17 | 10 | 7 | .588 | Lost in Conference finals |
| Boston | 2020–21 | 72 | 36 | 36 | .500 | 4th in Atlantic | 5 | 1 | 4 | .200 | Lost in First round |
| Career | 636 | 354 | 282 | .557 | 78 | 38 | 40 | .487 | |||
See also
In Spanish: Brad Stevens para niños
