INDIANAPOLIS — Butler athletic director and former males’s basketball coach Barry Collier will retire on the finish of April, the college stated Wednesday.
The 69-year-old Collier took over as AD of his alma mater in August 2006 and presided over the Bulldogs’ nationwide runner-up finishes in 2010 and 2011. He constructed this system based mostly on the mannequin he discovered from late Corridor of Fame basketball coach Tony Hinkle, the innovator of the orange basketball and a pillar of Bulldogs sports activities for practically a half century.
“After greater than 50 years in collegiate athletics, 31 as a member of the Butler household, and, after a lot thought and prayer, I’ve determined to retire, efficient April 30, 2024,” he stated in a message to the college neighborhood. He stated he deliberate on spending extra time together with his household and mates.
Earlier than transferring into administration, Collier spent three many years teaching basketball — the final 17 as a head coach at Butler, serving to to resuscitate the college’s flagship program,. He later coached at Nebraska.
Collier completed with a profession mark of 285-223 and was 196-132 with Butler. He led the Bulldogs to a few NCAA event appearances and an NIT look throughout his remaining 4 seasons on the faculty.
He additionally served as an assistant coach at Rose-Hulman in Indiana, Seattle Central Neighborhood Faculty, Idaho, Oregon and Stanford earlier than taking up as Bulldogs head coach in 1989-90.
“After I first stepped onto Butler’s campus within the fall of 1974, I instantly felt at dwelling,” Collier wrote. “I cherished my time in a Bulldog uniform and competing in Hinkle Fieldhouse. Whereas my teaching profession took me across the nation for years, my coronary heart was by no means too removed from Indianapolis. In 1989, the chance to guide the Butler Bulldog males’s basketball program was the fruition of a dream, and my eleven years on the bench had been memorable. To have the ability to return to Butler in 2006 to guide the Division of Athletics has been the icing on the cake.”
As athletic director, Collier employed Brad Stevens, now the Boston Celtics president of basketball operations; Chris Holtmann, the present Ohio State coach, and introduced Thad Matta, one in every of his former gamers, again to the Bulldogs final season for his second stint as head coach.
Butler president James Danko stated the college would spend the remaining months of Collier’s tenure honoring his legacy to the college. Danko additionally stated Collier would function a part of the transitional staff for his successor.
“All through his time at Butler as a student-athlete, coach, administrator, and chief, Barry has personified our core values of dedication, spirit, and excellence,” Danko stated.
