Men's Basketball Coaching Staff
Head Coach Brett Ballard 
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Coach Brett Ballard enters his second season with the Baker basketball program. In Ballard's first season the Wildcats improved their league win total and overall win total from the previous year. The Wildcats broke decade old statistical records in points allowed per game and defensive field-goal percentage defense. Before coming to Baker, Ballard served as the director of basketball operations at the University of Kansas from 2008 to 2010. His previous four years he served as the administrative assistant/video coordinator with the KU basketball staff. In 2003-04, Ballard was a student assistant for the Jayhawks.
Ballard oversaw the academic progress of the Jayhawks, working closely with the off-season strength and conditioning program, assisting with on-campus recruiting, team travel and team video. Ballard was also the camp director for the Bill Self Basketball Camps. Ballard organized and directed over 2,500 campers each summer and also coordinated and directed the Coaches Clinic, the Winter Clinic and the Wilt Chamberlain Special Olympics Clinic. He was also heavily involved with all day-to-day operations of the program.
As a part of the Kansas basketball program, the Jayhawks won the 2008 national championship, advanced to three NCAA Tournament Elite Eights, won the past six Big 12 regular-season championships and claimed the past four of five conference postseason tournaments.
Ballard played two years for the Jayhawks -- 2001 and 2002 -- after transferring from Hutchinson Community College in his hometown of Hutchinson, Kan. A guard, Ballard played in 56 career games, scoring 59 points and dishing out 32 assists. KU went a combined 59-11 in his two seasons as a Jayhawk, including appearing in the 2001 NCAA Sweet Sixteen and the 2002 NCAA Final Four in Atlanta, Ga. He was named an Academic All-Big 12 selection as a senior for his efforts in the classroom.
Ballard earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education from Kansas in 2003.
Ballard and the former Kelly Temple, a KU graduate and former track and cross country runner at KU were married in August of 2005. They have two sons, Kaden and Brooks.
Terry Zerr – Assistant Coach
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Terry Zerr, known throughout the Heart of America Athletic Conference as Coach Z, brings enthusiasm and coaching experience to Coach Ballard’s staff. Coach Zerr, beginning his 12th season at BU, originally joined the Wildcat staff under longtime head coach Rick Weaver from 1997 to 2001 and returned for his second stint at the start of the 2004-05 season.
The Hays, Kansas, native began his coaching career at Eudora High School, where he served as the head boys basketball coach in 1990-1997. Between his two Baker stints, he served as an assistant coach for Johnson County Community College in the highly respected Jayhawk Junior College Conference.
As the top assistant, Coach Zerr will handle scouting, practice and game planning, player development and coordinate recruiting. He also will serve as a student athlete mentor.
Zerr has a bachelor’s degree from Fort Hays State University and a master’s degree from the University of Kansas.
David Ward – Assistant Coach
Former Baker basketball player David Ward enters his second season on the Baker University staff after spending two seasons as a graduate assistant men's basketball coach at Lindenwood University, which compiled a 42-23 record during that time. Before Lindenwood, Ward spent one season coaching high school basketball at Kearney (Mo.) High School.
Ward played for the Wildcats in 2004-2006 and was a member of the all-HAAC team in 2005-2006.Ward began his career at Johnson County Community College, where he played for two seasons before transferring to Baker.
Ward graduated from Baker University in 2007 with a business degree and received a master’s degree in sports management in May 2010 from Lindenwood.
