University of the Cumberlands Athletics

Don Butcher enters his 21^st season as Head Coach of the University of the Cumberlands Men’s Basketball program.

Butcher, a native of Paintsville, Kentucky, began his coaching career in 1989 when he became an assistant coach at Cumberlands. His collegiate playing days were spent at Georgetown College. Twelve and a half years later, in November of 2000, he became the head coach of University of the Cumberlands making this his 21^st year at the helm, replacing UC Athletic Hall of Famer Randy Vernon. During his first year as head coach,

Butcher’s team tallied a 21-13 record while he earned the Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year award. He also shared the award in 2002-2003 before earning another award in the 2010-2011 season. Coach Butcher's career record now at Cumberlands is 391-182 while leading his team to 14 NAIA National Tournament appearances. A Butcher-led Patriots team has never missed back-to-back NAIA National Tournaments since he became Head Coach at UC.

Coach Butcher came to Cumberlands because he felt it was, "A great place to work and a great place to be a student. Both the faculty and staff here want the students to succeed and you don't find that at every school. It starts with Dr. Cockrum's commitment to athletic excellence and filters its way down to every person on campus. There is a proud tradition and they want to see it continue. All the coaches at Cumberlands should be grateful for the pledge of excellence the administration has made."

"Working with these guys and helping to mold them into young men is the best part about coaching,” said Butcher. “Teaching them that it is okay to ‘keep on keeping on!' by putting in an honest day's work even when you may see very little benefits from that day's work. I always tell my guys to get your college degree. Knowledge is power. Whatever you end up doing with your life, do it with pride."

Although he has lost contact with some of his players after graduation, he hopes they know how proud of them he is. Perhaps most critical of himself, Coach Butcher says, "I'm not sure I've ever coached a good game. I am still trying to get one right."

Coach Butcher resides in Williamsburg with his wife Bonnie, who also is a professor at UC, and has two sons, Don Russell, Jr. and Daniel Raymond.

Coaching History

• 1987-1989 – Assistant Coach, Georgetown College
• 1989-2000 – Assistant Coach, University of the Cumberlands
• 2000-Present – Head Coach, University of the Cumberlands – 412-193 Record

• Three time Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year – (00-01, 02-03, 10-11)
• 14 NAIA National Tournament Appearances – (00-01, 01-02, 02-03, 04-05, 06-07, 07-08, 08-09, 09-10, 11-12, 13-14, 14-15, 15-16, 16-17, 17-18, 28-19)
• 16 20+ Win Seasons at Cumberlands
• One MSC Regular Season Championship
• Two MSC Tournament Championships
• Four MSC Player of the Year Award Winners
• 34 MSC First-Team All-Conference Selections
• 9 MSC Second-Team All-Conference Selections
• 11 MSC All-Conference Honorable Mention Selections
• 70 MSC Academic All-Conference Honorees
• One MSC Champions of Character Award Recipient (Chad Byron)
• One NAIA First-Team All-American
• Three NAIA Second-Team All-Americans
• Two NAIA Third-Team All-Americans
• Ten NAIA All-American Honorable Mentions
• 16 NAIA Scholar-Athlete Honorees