Butler gives interim hoops coach Chris Holtmann full-time gig
From Butler Athletics:
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. — Butler University athletic director Barry Collier announced Friday that Chris Holtmann has been named the school’s 23rd men’s basketball head coach.
Holtmann had been serving as interim head coach since October, when former coach Brandon Miller requested and was granted a medical leave of absence.
Miller, who served for one season as Butler’s head coach, will not be returning following a University-approved medical leave.
“Chris has provided important leadership and coached successfully in a difficult situation. He has fully embraced the Butler Way and we are confident in the future of our basketball program with Chris at the helm,” stated Collier in announcing the appointment. “We want to thank Brandon Miller for his many contributions to Butler over the last 18 months, and wish him well. Out of respect for Brandon and his privacy, we will have no additional comment.”
Holtmann has successfully guided the Bulldogs through the start of the 2014-15 season. In the first two months, he has led the Bulldogs to ten victories, a third-place finish at the power-packed, eight-team Battle 4 Atlantis, and a “Top 25” national ranking. Butler gained national attention with a victory over No. 5 North Carolina in the Bahamas.
“I am honored to be named the Head Coach at Butler University and it is a real privilege to serve the University in this capacity,” said Holtmann of his appointment. “I would like to thank President Danko and Barry Collier for their significant leadership and guidance during these last few months. I would also like to thank our staff and players for their incredible support and hard work. This is a special place and a program rich in tradition. We look forward to working extremely hard to make the Butler community proud
in the coming years. We are grateful to Brandon for his leadership and he will always be an important part of Butler Basketball. He and his family remain in our program’s thoughts and prayers.”
Holtmann joined Miller’s staff as an assistant coach last year after serving three seasons as Head Coach at Gardner-Webb University. In his final season at the North Carolina school, he guided the basketball program to a Division I school-record 21 victories and a berth in the CollegeInsider.com
postseason tournament. He was named Big South Conference Coach of the Year and NABC District 3 Coach of the Year.
Butler, ranked as high as No. 15 in the nation this season, is in the middle of a two-game road trip against two nationally-ranked teams to start the 2014-15 BIG EAST season. The Bulldogs, who played at #6/5 Villanova on New Year’s Eve, will face #15/17 St. John’s in Queens, N.Y., on Saturday, Jan. 3. The game will start at 4 p.m. (ET) and will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
