After weeks of media speculation, it is now official: Butler University will be a member of the Big East. Butler will enter the new Big East—consisting of the seven Catholic schools departing the current Big East—alongside Xavier and Creighton on July 1. Butler President Jim Danko officially announced the school’s intention to leave the Atlantic…
After one season in the Atlantic 10, is Butler packing up and moving on?
Despite several media reports and anonymous sources saying that the university will change athletic conferences, officials are mum. Butler University is one of five institutions rumored to be moving to the reorganized Big East. A new move could mean more media exposure, less travel time, new competition and a larger athletics department budget. Butler—along with…
Butler first full-time SID still leads program
Jim McGrath wanted to be a pharmacist. Butler University’s sports information director of 31 years never intended to become involved in the sports information field. A 1971 graduate of Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., McGrath considered attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, among others, to study pharmacy. “When I got to Augustana, I found out…
Lynch is Mr. Butler
Bill Lynch’s career path has come full circle. He played football and basketball at Butler, and after a series of football coaching jobs, he finds himself back at his alma mater. After 33 years of coaching football, including 18 as a head coach, Lynch has now been serving as one of Butler’s associate athletic directors…
Crowley to become next athletic director at Niagara University
Butler is losing an associate athletic director to a New York university. Tom Crowley, Butler’s current associate athletic director of internal operations, was named athletic director for the Niagara Purple Eagles last week. “His experience as an administrator, fundraiser and coach will play a critical role in the continued success of our athletics department,” the…
From field to classroom, leadership key for Isenthal
The feeling of being under pressure is something most people seem to avoid. This cannot be said of Butler senior men’s soccer player Jared Isenthal, who has no problem with the clock ticking down on him on or off the pitch. Leadership is the trait Isenthal lives by. During his high school career, Isenthal served…
Hinkle Fieldhouse undergoes major exterior, interior renovations
The first major renovation of Hinkle Fieldhouse since the early-1990s is progressing as expected, school officials said. “Overall, I think it has gone well,” Richard Michal, executive director of facilities, said. “It has been challenging, but we knew it would be getting into it.” Michal said he views the renovation as two distinct projects: exterior…
Conference change creates new rivals
Butler University athletics will face a change in competition following its the early departure from the Horizon League for the Atlantic 10 Conference. They also expect to rise to the occasion. Administrators said they feel that Butler teams will still be top competitors in the A-10, as they were in the Horizon League for many…
Atlantic 10 move received warmly by coaches
Butler University’s move to the Atlantic 10 Conference brought praise from coaches of several different athletic teams on campus. Men’s basketball coach Brad Stevens said the move to the A-10 was no surprise and that the conference is one of the best basketball conferences in the county. “It is one heck of a basketball league,…
Academics at forefront of athletics
Despite the high demands of Division I athletics, Butler has been very successful with placing students on the Horizon League Honor Roll. This past fall, Butler had eight students on Academic All-League teams. Last year, 34 athletes received this honor between all of Butler’s athletic teams. Butler also had an Academic All-American last year in…