by Hunter Patterson | Apr 14, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
“Goals are important. Having a vision is important. Commitment to the process is more important,” Butler men’s basketball coach Brad Stevens told the crowd at the fourth annual Don Meyer Evening of Excellence on April 14. And Stevens knows the significance behind not just winning, but figuring out what it takes to win. Character, Commitment to Details, Performance and Results – those are the levels of Stevens’ pyramid he has used each of the five years of his head coaching career at Butler to help his players remember to keep their priorities straight. In those five years, he’s managed to get his team two Final Four appearances. “You have to simplify things, but have to do a lot of work to before you can simplify things,” the two-time Horizon Coach of the Year said. With guidance from two notable coaches, Thad Matta and Todd Licklighter, Stevens learned he had to “think like a head coach every day,” and to “just be yourself.” On the bottom level of the pyramid, Stevens listed character as the most important attribute. “You can be humble, but you need to balance that with courage,” Stevens said. He said there have been seasons where the team has lost players to the NBA draft or graduation, and the younger players were not ready to “take the reins.” While the players may not have been physically or mentally prepared, near the season’s end, Stevens said the same players were playing with a courage that allowed them to “not care about anything and give everything.” The second level is preparation and attention to detail. “In basketball, we look at...
by Hunter Patterson | Apr 13, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
This week on Lumination News, anchors Jessica Burke and TJ Ojehomon update you on everything from SGA elections to why the head coach of the Tennessee Titans visited Lipscomb’s campus. Plus, Jameson Roper has the latest entertainment news, Ariel Jones gives the sports report and Hunter Patterson takes a look at this week’s weather. Lumination Newscast, April 13, 2012 from lumination Network on...
by Hunter Patterson | Apr 13, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
At the Don Meyer Evening of Excellence in 2010, Tim Tebow stood on a stage in the center of Allen Arena speaking to thousands listening intently to his every word. Last year, Mike Krzyzewski spoke to a similar crowd about his experiences as a coach on the national scale as well as the college spectrum. On Saturday, one of the nation’s premier college coaches will be on stage. Butler Coach Brad Stevens is highly touted as one of the best young coaches of the modern era. Two years ago, Stevens signed a deal that would keep him at Butler until the 2021-22 season. With his several awards and accolades in just a few short years, Butler had no choice but to offer Stevens a long-term offer. Stevens, only 35, has compiled a 139-40 record in five seasons, including back-to-back trips to the national championship game in 2010-11. And while his coaching skills have been sought after time and time again, he continues to turn down offers from larger universities. Since 2009, the former Division III point guard has won two Horizon Coach of the Year awards and the Clair Bee Coach of the Year Award, given to the coach who “has made the most significant positive contributions to his sport” during the preceding year. Stevens told The City Paper he is thrilled to speak at the event, which is named for the legendary Coach Meyer. “He is just a guy that everybody that is in coaching idolizes and thinks the world of,” Stevens said. “He was the star among coaches long before the accident. Everybody in coaching knew of...
by Hunter Patterson | Apr 13, 2012 | News Slider
Rising senior and molecular biology major Patrick Grace was elected on Thursday as SGA President for the upcoming school year. After a voting miscue on Wednesday, Grace was announced the victor over Austin Bever. In what SGA is calling an “error in the type of link used to collect the ballot,” students were called upon to re-vote until the 4 p.m. deadline on Thursday. The full list of winners can be found below. Run-offs will be held for SGA Vice President and Secretary until 4 p.m. Friday. President: Patrick Grace Treasurer: Brandon Smith Senior Senators: Roxanne Spielvogle Ale Dalton Austin Hinson Jackson Hearn Kathryn McKinley Junior Senators: Keiana Hastings Caesar Tang Virginia Ezell Brandon Carver Kelli Blackshear Sophomore Senators: Seth Carey Braxton Hillis Brendon Burke Lauren King Drew...
by Hunter Patterson | Apr 12, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb women’s basketball head coach Frank Bennett has been named associate athletic director. In accepting this position, Bennett will transition out of his role as women’s basketball head coach, and a national search will begin immediately for his replacement. Athletic Director Phillip Hutcheson made the announcement on Thursday. Bennett recently completed his 32nd year as the head coach of the women’s basketball team and is the 25th winningest women’s basketball coach in NCAA history with a record of 583-438. “Coach Bennett has dedicated the majority of his life to our program and has influenced hundreds of student athletes through his leadership, integrity and walk with God,” Hutcheson said. “I personally appreciate everything he has done for Lipscomb, and I look forward to working with him in this new role.” Bennett’s program was a NAIA national power and, in a history-making feat, appeared in the NCAA Tournament in the program’s first year of eligibility. Bennett was enshrined in the Lipscomb Athletics Hall of Fame and the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2003. “Our mission has been to try to create an environment where our players and coaches could grow as a total person — spiritually, socially, academically and in basketball,” Bennett said. “I have been privileged to be part of a program that has a positive impact on our players’ lives. I appreciate our assistant coaches for their hard work, friendship and concern and care for our student athletes. I also appreciate the university offering me the opportunity to continue to make an impact in this new role as associate athletic director. I look forward to the new challenges of...
