USF Athletics

Bull Speed Ahead Podcast: Sr. Assoc. AD Lee Butler (Episode 51)

May 12, 2022

Lee Butler, Senior Associate AD/Student-Athlete Success
Named to the USF Athletics senior staff in April of 2022, Lee Butler assumed the newly formed role of Senior Associate AD for Student-Athlete Success.
 
Butler, who had previously served at the Atlantic Coast Conference since 2010 and was in the role of Assistant Commissioner for Men's Basketball since 2014, assumed three main areas of oversight in USF Athletics, including student-athlete facing programs and services, sport administration for the men's and women's basketball programs, and department diversity and inclusion oversight. Several athletic department  report to Butler, including Academics, Sports Medicine (including sports psychology and nutrition), Strength and Conditioning and Student-Athlete Enhancement (including the Selmon Mentoring Institute).
 
Prior to coming to USF, Butler joined the ACC office in 2010 and served as an Assistant Commissioner for Men's Basketball since 2014 as well as the Chair of the ACC Racial and Social Justice Committee (CORE).
 
As Chair of CORE for the ACC, Butler was responsible for overseeing the internal and external initiatives for diversity, equity and inclusion.      

Butler worked in the ACC Championships department from 2010-2014 before focusing on men's basketball. He began as the associate director of championships in 2010, was promoted to director of championships in 2011 and again to assistant commissioner for championships in 2013. 

A native of Woodbridge, Va., Butler earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 2006 and a master's degree in Education with an emphasis on Sport Administration in 2010, both from the University of Miami. He also played on the Hurricanes' men's basketball team from 2004-06, earning ACC Honor Roll twice.
 
Lee and his wife, Veronica, have a young son, Boss.

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION INCLUDE:
Why Butler chose USF
The former collegiate basketball player sites "opportunity in a time of transformational change," being a part of something historic and his desire to impact young people.

How Butler got his start in athletics
Butler recounts being spurred on by an academic advisor that saw a future for him in athletic administration.

Kelly and Butler discuss his career track to the ACC and then USF and the background that will help make him successful
Butler sites his service-oriented approach, empathy toward student-athletes and coaches and what they deal with, and being a selfless, servant leader as keys to his career growth.

Kelly and Butler discuss his involvement and strategy for elevating both men's and women's basketball at USF
The two discuss examples of basketball success in the state, including Florida State, how they built their programs and the key of the support of Bulls Nation. They got to work immediately upon Butler's arrival to bring key staff and coaches working with USF basketball to the table to begin to formulate the best plan forward.

Butler discusses his family background and the collegiate success of his brother, Deon, and wife, Veronica
Lee's brother, Deon, was a record-setting receiver at Penn State in the early 2000's and his wife, Veronica, competed and coached in track and cross country at the collegiate and Team USA level before moving into teaching.