Request by Former Teammate Ryan Hooker '97 Brings Brad Stevens '99 to Peoria

September 2, 2011

72052 September 2, 2011, Greencastle, Ind. — "No coach in the history of the NCAA has begun his career as successfully as Brad Stevens has at Butler," begins an article in the Peoria Journal Star which notes that Stevens, a 1999 graduate of DePauw University, will speak in the Illinois city next Wednesday. Dave Reynolds writes, "In just four years as the Bulldogs’ head men’s basketball coach, Stevens has compiled a 117-25 overall record, won four Horizon League championships -- and most improbably -- reached the NCAA championship game each of the past two seasons, losing to Duke and Connecticut."

Stevens and Bradley coach Geno Ford will keynote "Dining & Dishing," a benefit for the Heart of Illinois Down Syndrome Association. It will take place at Bradley's the Michel Student Center.

"If it brings a little bit of awareness, it’s a positive," Stevens tells the newspaper.

The newspaper reports, "Stevens is coming because of a request from Ryan Hooker ['97], a basketball teammate at DePauw University who now lives in Washington. The 93099 daughter of Ryan and Erica Hooker, 20-month-old Elinn, has Down syndrome, a genetic condition in which a person has 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. 'My wife and I were thinking of ways to raise money for the association to fund activities and help families with medical help and medication,' Hooker said. 'I thought Brad’s story would be good to hear. He’s such a good guy and a good person, too.' "

Stevens adds, "Any time I can do to help a former teammate, you’ve gotta try to do that. I’m obviously excited to come over and be a part of it."

Read more at the Journal Star's website.