Brad Stevens credits Celtics' Bill Russell for refining The Butler Way

David Woods, Indianapolis Star
·2 min read
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No wonder Brad Stevens was comfortable in transitioning from the Butler Bulldogs to the Boston Celtics. The basketball programs shared the same ethos.

Stevens, the Celtics’ president of basketball operations, said the late Bill Russell contributed to the Butler culture.

Russell, who won 11 NBA titles in addition to two NCAA championships and an Olympic gold medal, died Sunday. He was 88.

Dec 11, 2019; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens reacts on the sidelines during the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Dec 11, 2019; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens reacts on the sidelines during the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

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“I go back to when I was coaching at Butler in the early 2000s, we were trying to define this thing called 'The Butler Way' that was like the principle of how we wanted to be," Stevens said in an interview with NBC Sports Boston's Chris Forsberg.

"We knew what it felt like when a team played really well together and what it looked like when a team played really well together, but we just couldn't wrap our arms around it or define it."

Thad Matta, in his first tenure as Butler coach, coined the term “The Butler Way.” And former coach Barry Collier, now athletic director, has credited a retreat with former Wisconsin coach Dick Bennett for enhancing Butler’s team approach.

Stevens said coach Todd Lickliter spent one summer reading “Russell’s Rules” by the former Celtics player and coach .

"Half the stuff in our locker room at Butler, in a school of 4,000 in central Indiana, was written and defined by Bill Russell and his runs with the Celtics. I just think that's the legacy and the game that is just immeasurable," Stevens said.

"I don't know how many programs, whether they know it or not, have taken his words or his lessons and tried to become a team like he led a team here."

Bill Russell, left, is congratulated by coach Red Auerbach after scoring his 10,000th career point.
Bill Russell, left, is congratulated by coach Red Auerbach after scoring his 10,000th career point.

Stevens, 45, was 166-49 (.772) in six seasons as Butler coach from 2008-13. He holds NCAA coaching records for most wins after three seasons (89), four (111), five (139) and six (166).

He was 354-282 in eight seasons as Celtics coach, losing in the Eastern Conference finals three times (2017, 2018, 2020). He moved from coaching to front office after the 2020-21 season.

Contact IndyStar reporter David Woods at david.woods@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Butler: Brad Stevens credits Celtics' Bill Russell for Butler Way