Brady Toops grew up in New London, a small town in the west-central part of Minnesota. A three sport athlete in high school (football, basketball, and baseball), Brady not only succeeded on the field but in the classroom as well. After graduating at the top of his class in 2000 (New London-Spicer High School), Brady went on to play baseball at the University of Arkansas. In 2004, as one of the captains of his team, Brady helped lead the Razorbacks to the College World Series and was named 2004 SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year.