Southeastern University Director of Athletics Drew Watson has announced Jay Butler as the Interim Women’s Basketball Coach.
Butler comes to the Fire with experience as a head coach and assistant coach in the Ivy League and has spent time in ministry as well as collegiate athletic administration.
“Jay brings a wealth of experience to Lakeland as the next women’s basketball coach,” said Watson. “He is a great addition to the staff and the right person to lead the program through the coming year. I believe his influence on the future of the team will be immeasurable.”
The Castleton State Hall of Fame honoree spent eight years as the head coach at Columbia University, leaving as the program’s all-time leader in wins and coached two 1,000-point scorers. Butler coached the 2002-03 team that finished second in program history in three-point percentage as well as the 2001-02 team that posted the fourth-best three-point percentage in Lions’ history.
“I want to thank Athletic Director Drew Watson and the SEU administration for believing in me and giving me this wonderful opportunity,” said Butler. “From the minute we first spoke, God was in the details.”
Butler also spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Brown University and has had head coaching stops at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and Hood College.
After his time in Columbia, he served as the Director of Coaches Ministry at Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Ruston, La. working with high schools and colleges in the area.
Butler has served as Director of Athletics at College of Mount Saint Vincent, College of New Rochelle, and most recently, Cairn University.
“I look forward to building upon the great tradition of success in this program by continuing to play an entertaining brand of basketball offensively while locking down on the defensive end as a team,” said Butler. “We will be fun to watch and will keep in mind that Christ is the foundation of all we do.”
Butler and his wife, Tammy have two children, Helene and Joshua and two granddaughters, Rae and Kady.
