KYLE KELLER

Ballard promoted; Keller joins KU basketball staff

By Gary Bedore

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Kansas University coach Bill Self has promoted from within to fill the position of KU director of basketball operations.

Brett Ballard, who has worked in KU’s hoops office the past five years as KU’s administrative assistant/video coordinator, on Tuesday was named replacement for Ronnie Chalmers, who resigned his director of basketball post on Aug. 12.

Kyle Keller, who worked on the staffs of Eddie Sutton and Sean Sutton at Oklahoma State the past nine years, will replace Ballard as video coordinator, Self indicated.

“When Ronnie Chalmers resigned, we didn’t have to go too far to fill that position,” Self said. “Brett has been with us the past five years and has done a fabulous job. He certainly deserves this title. I am very pleased with the job he has done thus far and it was very easy to move him into that slot.”

A native of Hutchinson, Ballard played at KU from 2000 to 2002. An Academic All-Big 12 pick, he earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education in 2003.

“Being from Kansas, having played at Kansas and getting the opportunity to work at Kansas has been great,” Ballard said. “I feel very fortunate and blessed. I especially appreciate the opportunity that (athletic director) Mr. (Lew) Perkins and coach Self have given me.”

Keller was promoted to assistant coach at OSU in 2005-06, after serving the previous four years as the director of basketball operations for the Cowboys.

“I have known Kyle since 1987 when he was a student at Oklahoma State,” Self said. “He has done every job imaginable, from being a student assistant to a graduate assistant to a part-time assistant to a head coach, and in charge of every duty you could handle in a basketball program at his various stops over the last 20-plus years. We’re very excited to add him. I think he will be a great addition. He will fit in very well with his expertise as far as bringing in some fresh ideas to our staff.”

A native of Dallas, Keller worked as head coach at Tyler Junior College from 1997 to ’99. He started his coaching career as an aide at Louisiana Tech from 1990-94 before moving to Tyler JC as an assistant coach the next two years. He then served one season at UT-San Antonio (1996-97) before returning as head coach at Tyler.

“I’m really excited with the opportunity to work with coach Self,” Keller said. “He is one of the top coaches in all of basketball and has a great staff with Joe Dooley, Kurtis Townsend, Danny Manning and Brett Ballard, whom I have had an opportunity to get to know and respect through my years in coaching.

“I just want to try and fit in as best I can and contribute to one of the most tradition-rich programs in the country. I’m looking forward to walking out of Allen Fieldhouse for the first time ever with a win.”

At his alma mater, Okie State, Keller served as an assistant coach from 1999-2002, as director of basketball operations from 2002-06 and assistant coach from 2006-08.

KU Men's Basketball Promotes Brett Ballard and Kyle Keller Joins Staff

Aug. 26, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. - University of Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self has announced that Brett Ballard has been promoted to director of basketball operations and that Kyle Keller has been named video coordinator, replacing Ballard.

"When Ronnie Chalmers resigned last month, we didn't have to go too far fill that position," Self said. "Brett has been with us the past five years and has done a fabulous job. He certainly deserves this title. I am very pleased with the job he has done thus far and it was very easy to move him into that slot."

Ballard is entering his sixth season with the Kansas men's basketball program. A native of Hutchinson, Kan., Ballard was a student assistant in 2003-04 and became the administrative assistant/video coordinator the following year. Ballard is also the camp director for the Bill Self Basketball Camps, for which he organized and directed more than 2,500 campers this past summer. Ballard also coordinates and directs the Coaches Clinic, Winter Clinic and Wilt Chamberlain Special Olympics Clinic for the men's basketball program.

As a player, Ballard lettered two seasons - 2000-01 and 2001-02 - for the Jayhawks.  He appeared in 56 games and was named Academic All-Big 12 his senior year. Ballard earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education from KU in 2003.

"Being from Kansas, having played at Kansas and getting the opportunity to work at Kansas has been great," Ballard said. "I feel very fortunate and blessed. I especially appreciate the opportunity that (Athletics Director) Mr. (Lew) Perkins and Coach Self have given me."

Since becoming a member of the KU basketball staff, Ballard has been a part of four Big 12 regular-season championships, three NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearances, three Big 12 Tournament titles and the 2008 national championship. Ballard replaces Ronnie Chalmers, who served as director of basketball operations for the past three seasons.

Keller joins the KU program after serving nine years on the Oklahoma State men's basketball staff under head coaches Eddie Sutton and Sean Sutton. He was promoted to assistant coach in 2005-06, after serving the previous four years as the director of basketball operations for the Cowboys.

"I have known Kyle since 1987 when he was a student at Oklahoma State," Self said. "He has done every job imaginable, from being a student assistant to a graduate assistant to a part-time assistant to a head coach, and in charge of every duty you could handle in a basketball program at his various stops over the last 20-plus years. We're very excited to add him. I think he will be a great addition. He will fit in very well with his expertise as far as bringing in some fresh ideas to our staff."

A native of Dallas, Keller returned to Stillwater after spending several years at the NCAA Division I and junior college levels. He spent the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons as head coach at Tyler (Texas) Junior College and guided the Apaches to the Region XIV playoffs both seasons. He started his coaching career on the Louisiana Tech staff from 1990-94 before going to Tyler JC as an assistant coach the next two years. He then served one season on staff at Texas-San Antonio (1996-97) before returning as head coach at Tyler JC.

"I'm really excited with the opportunity to work with Coach Self," Keller said. "He is one of the top coaches in all of basketball and has a great staff with Joe Dooley, Kurtis Townsend, Danny Manning and Brett Ballard, whom I have had an opportunity to get to know and respect through my years in coaching.

"I just want to try and fit in as best I can and contribute to one of the most tradition rich programs in the country," Keller continued.  "I'm looking forward to walking out of Allen Fieldhouse for the first time ever with a win."

In Stillwater, Keller served as an assistant coach from 1999-2002, as the director of basketball operations from 2002-06 and assistant coach from 2006-08. He was on staff for OSU's run to the 2004 Final Four and its Sweet 16 appearance in 2005. Additionally, OSU's 2006 recruiting class was ranked No. 1 by Rivals.com. Keller earned his bachelor's degree in business management from OSU in 1990 and his master's degree in human relations and supervision from Louisiana Tech in 1991.