Mount Saint Vincent Welcomes John ‘Jay’ Butler as New Director Of Athletics
7/12/2011
Butler most recently served as Assistant Director of Athletics at Division III Hood
Riverdale, N.Y. – University of Mount Saint Vincent Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Dr. Dianna Dale has announced the hiring of John ‘Jay’ Butler as the school’s new Director of Athletics and Recreation. Butler comes to Riverdale after serving as an athletic administrator and head coach at Division III Hood College in Frederick, Md. since 2007.
“I would like to thank Dr. Flynn and Dr. Dale for this outstanding opportunity to lead the department of athletics at the University of Mount Saint Vincent. We are blessed with an outstanding staff of coaches and professionals. I look forward to working with each of them to accomplish the goals we establish together,” said Butler upon his hire.
He continued, “We are sitting on a gold mine in the greatest City in the world. The pristine campus and outstanding academic reputation will assist our coaches in attracting first-class student-athletes. We expect great things in the years ahead.”
While at Hood, Butler was responsible for the academic progress of Hood’s 280 student-athletes through an academic enhancement initiative he created called Students Providing Understanding and Resources (SPURs). The program has produced academic success throughout the department at Hood and also helped strengthen the relationship between the academic and athletic departments on campus.
Through SPURs, Butler helped to train and guide 36 student-athlete mentors in the program and provided mentoring and counseling himself for the 280 student-athletes at the school.
“I am pleased to have Jay Butler join the Mount community as the next Director of Athletics and Recreation,” said Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Dr. Dianna Dale. “His knowledge, skills, ability and vibrant enthusiasm serve as a necessary foundation to lead this important department to continued success.”
In addition to his administrative duties at Hood, Butler also served as the head coach for the Women’s Basketball program and the Men’s and Women’s Tennis programs. He is an NCAA Division III Compliance Certified Coach for on and off campus recruiting and also monitored a total of four assistant coaches, including three for women’s basketball. In addition to his coaching duties, he also ran the Hood College/FCA Summer Sports Camp.
Butler also brings Division I coaching experience to Mount Saint Vincent after leading the women’s program at Columbia University from 1996-2004. He has the most wins in Columbia history and his teams were named WBCA Top-25 All-Academic Teams for the 2000-01 and 2002-03 seasons.
While with the Lions, Butler had a 100-percent graduation rate over his eight year stint and helped to mentor four All-Rookie Team selections. Off the court, he helped increase alumnae involvement in the program through philanthropic giving.
Butler has also held head coaching positions at Davis and Elkins College from 1986-89 and St. Mary’s College from 1994-96.
University of Mount Saint Vincent President Dr. Charles Flynn added, “We are delighted to have Jay Butler join the University of Mount Saint Vincent. We know that his strong leadership can help our vibrant athletic program out-compete in the challenges ahead.”
From 2005-07, Butler served as the Coaches Ministry Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Ruston, La. In that capacity he established and led a coaches’ ministry in five local school districts and facilitated fund raising efforts for the ministry’s budget.
While in Ruston, Butler also organized and implemented specialized events to promote the vision of the ministry and inspired athletic focus and performance in the pre-game chapel ministry for NCAA Division I teams. During his time in Louisiana he also served as the Head Women’s Tennis Coach at Louisiana Tech from 2005-06.
Off the court, Butler has served as an NCAA Division III Atlantic Region Committee member since 2008 and also served as a NCAA Division III Tournament Site Representative for the past three seasons. The past two years he served as the Capital Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Chairperson.
Butler graduated from Castleton State College in Castleton, Vt., where he is a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 1983, before earning his Masters in Exercise Physiology from the University of Maryland in 1986.
Butler and his wife Tammy currently reside in Dumont, N.J. The couple has two children; Helene who is a senior Women’s Lacrosse player at Hood majoring in Elementary/Special Education and their son Joshua, a 12 year old seventh grader.
About the University of Mount Saint Vincent
Founded in 1847, the University of Mount Saint Vincent is a co-educational, independent institution rooted in the spirit and mission of the Sisters of Charity and committed to the liberal arts. The College’s undergraduate and master’s level degree programs prepare its uncommonly diverse students for lives of professional achievement and service. Visit www.mountsaintvincent.edu for more information.