Brad Stevens Named To World University Games Staff

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Butler men’s basketball coach Brad Stevens has been named an assistant coach for the 2011 USA Men’s World University Games Team, USA Basketball announced today.  Purdue’s Matt Painter was named head coach of the U.S. team, and Missouri State’s Cuonzo Martin was selected as an assistant coach.

The coaching staff selections were made by the USA Basketball Junior National Team Committee, chaired by Syracuse University Hall of Fame head coach Jim Boeheim.

“Matt Painter is an outstanding young coach who has already made great contributions to USA Basketball,” said Boeheim of the selection.  “It will be a great asset to have him on the staff again.”

“Brad Stevens and Cuonzo Martin are two of the best young head coaches in NCAA Basketball.  The players in the USA Basketball program will certainly benefit from their coaching.”

Stevens is in his fourth season as Butler’s head coach, after serving six seasons as an assistant coach with the Bulldogs.  The two-time Horizon League “Coach of the Year” stands No. 1 on the NCAA Division I list for “Best Coaching Starts By Wins - 3 Years” with his 89-15 record in his first three seasons.  He recorded his 100th career win in his 120th career game earlier this month  Only five coaches in NCAA Division I history reached their 100th win faster!

The 34-year-old Butler coach will be making his USA Basketball coaching debut.

“I’m really excited to be a part of USA Basketball,” said Stevens.  “It’s an honor to be asked to participate, to work with the USA Basketball Staff and coach Martin, and to assist coach Painter in the World University Games.”

Last season, Stevens guided Butler to a school-record 33-5 overall record, the Horizon League’s first 18-0 conference mark, a fourth consecutive league regular season championship, a second Horizon League Tournament crown in three years and a fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament.  He led the Bulldogs to their first Final Four appearance and a national runner-up finish last April!  Butler was nationally-ranked for the fourth straight year, and the Bulldogs compiled a 25-game winning streak, the longest in the nation in 2009-10!  Stevens was named NABC All-District 12 Coach for his efforts.

The 2011 World University Games will be held August 12-23 in Shenzhen, China.  Training camp to select the 12-member USA team will be held July 30-August 8 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

See complete USA Basketball release here.