Indianapolis - He did something no other Indiana college basketball coach had ever done before. Brad Stevens led Butler to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA championship game.
At the St Luke United Methodist church for two services Sunday the congregation received a message in faith delivered by a man who inspired a nation by coaching basketball.
Butler coach Brad Stevens delivered what some sports fans might consider a miracle, two back to back teams to the NCAA final round.
A first for an Indiana team of any size. Neither team brought home the trophy but as he explained to the pastor that's never how he defined success
"As long as you have people trying to progress, we liken it to a train moving every day, it's really fulfilling regardless of the result," said Stevens.
This year's team that seemed to fight their way against the odds to the final round, beating big name programs, a modern day David and Goliath story. And for fans who followed along it didn't matter that the giant UCONN came out the winner.
It didn't matter to the coach either, "You don't face adversity on the basketball court. You think you do. It's how you react that's important. To move on and try to live a fulfilled life afterward."
For the team it was about the relationships they made. The brotherhood they shared, even at their darkest moment, in the locker room after Monday night's game.
Pastor of St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Dr. Kent Millard, explained, "Soon all the players were hugging and telling each other how much they loved each other. They teach us how do you respond when things go wrong? With love."
Stevens says, "The one thing we try to do is prioritize the process and the journey over the result so that whatever we're doing here you can apply it to life after you're done."
The Butler way a message fitting for Sunday or any day of the week.
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