• » Schedule/Results
• » Roster
• » News
• » Archives

April 5, 2007

President Dr. Bobby Fong
"I'd like to begin by expressing my appreciation to the team and the coaching staff for a remarkable season. I also want to extend my thanks and best wishes to Todd Lickliter, who, after six years of wonderful service to Butler University has gone on to the University of Iowa. Most important, however, I want to emphasis that we're here to see the next step in Butler's athletic legacy in men's basketball. What we have seen Todd do was to take his place in a legacy of coaches, from Tony Hinkle to Barry Collier to Thad Matta.

"Today, we're here to greet the next coach who will follow in their way, a coach who believes that it is important for our students to excel classroom as on the court, to do well in life after graduation as to excel in shooting baskets while they are here as students. What we are looking forward to is a changing of the guard as well as a continuation of that tradition."

Athletic Director Barry Collier
"Our search for Todd's replacement was certainly thorough and, at the same time, in a timely fashion it has made for a seamless transition by bringing Brad [Stevens] in here. We believe that, without question, there is great confidence in our new coach and we look forward to building on what we have done. Most important is that we do this in the right way, the Butler Way, and that's what is going to happen."

Head Coach Brad Stevens
"I was sitting in the office just a minute ago, and somebody who saw me grow up came in and said `Man, you'll be a lot better behind that mike than you were on that court.' I really appreciate you taking the time to do this and spending your day with us.

"First and foremost I'd like to express my gratitude to Barry Collier and Dr. Fong and, of course, our players for showing their faith in me to lead this program and to move it forward. As all of you know, there is a tremendous tradition of excellence both on and off the court here at Butler, and, as we strive to build upon that tradition, we'll do so with an emphasis on `team.'

"Yesterday, before we met with [the players], they put a sign in the locker room that said `we' in big letters with line and `me' in small letters. At the end of the day, we want to epitomize `team'. We want to be a collection of individuals inspired and driven by a shared vision, and that vision simply is to represent Butler University well in the classroom, represent Butler University well on the basketball court, and represent Butler University well in the community.

"I'm honored, I'm extremely humbled and, boy, am I excited to get this thing going. It should be a lot of fun."

Brad Stevens, on realizing he is following in the tradition of the likes of Barry Collier, Thad Matta and Todd Lickliter: "It hasn't sunk in, first of all. Sure, there is some [nervousness], but what a great opportunity to have had the mentors that I have had. Any successful organization is driven by great leaders, and I've been fortunate enough to have spent a lot of time with a lot of great people and to have Coach Collier down the hall. Certainly, he will be a resource that I will greatly value."

Brad Stevens, on how he will coach: "We're going to emphasis `team.' Our main emphasis, who we are, is going to be a team and we will continue to promote the Butler Way and do that by representing ourselves well in everything we do. Those will all stay the same. I don't want to change a whole lot. I think that is one of the reasons why our players felt strongly about keeping an internal hire. They love the way we play and, as much as anything, you have guys that are on the same page and believe in each other and believe in the system a lot."

Barry Collier, on how much influence the players had in the decision: I spoke to the players a couple days ago, and, again, yesterday and I reminded them that they and the others behind them are the reasons for so many people wanting to be the coach at Butler. But, by the same token, who better to coach a team here than one who understands it and has lived it and embraces the way that the program has grown and what it represents and how to play the game."