Butler Basketball Coaching Search: Key Candidates Emerge in Second Week
It has been one week since Thad Matta’s abrupt retirement as Butler’s men’s basketball coach. The program still has not named his successor.
Search status
Athletic director Grant Leiendecker is leading the process. A source close to Butler told Filmogaz.com that a decision is expected mid-to-late this week.
In the second week of the Butler Basketball Coaching Search, key candidates have emerged. The list includes both college and professional assistants and head coaches.
Reported candidates
Travis Steele
Travis Steele coaches at Miami (Ohio). He is a Danville native and Butler alumnus.
A source with knowledge of the search told Filmogaz.com Steele is not expected to be Butler’s next coach. It remains unclear if an offer was extended.
John Groce
John Groce currently leads Akron. He is a Muncie native and former Butler assistant under Matta in 2000-01.
Groce worked with Matta at Xavier and Ohio State. He became Akron’s coach in 2017 and guided the Zips to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances.
Groce is 197-94 in nine seasons at Akron. His career mark is 377-225 between Ohio, Illinois and Akron.
Ronald Nored
Ronald Nored is an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks. He and Leiendecker were teammates at Butler for three seasons.
Nored was part of Butler’s national runner-up teams in 2010 and 2011. He lacks head-coaching experience at the college level.
His coaching résumé includes one season at Brownsburg High School and a stint as an assistant at Northern Kentucky. The rest of his work has been in the G League and the NBA.
Micah Shrewsberry
Micah Shrewsberry is Notre Dame’s head coach and remains under contract. A 2023 report from Jeff Goodman said Shrewsberry signed a seven-year deal above $4 million per year.
He reportedly has four years left on that contract. Any move would require negotiating a buyout with Notre Dame, and terms are not public.
Shrewsberry is 41-56 in three seasons at Notre Dame. He is an Indianapolis native, Cathedral graduate, and a former Butler assistant who coached at Penn State before Notre Dame.
Chris Holtmann
Chris Holtmann is the DePaul head coach. He previously spent three seasons as Butler’s head coach.
Holtmann succeeded Matta at Ohio State. His .693 winning percentage at Butler trails only Brad Stevens’ .772 among Bulldogs in the last century.
He has a 30-36 mark at DePaul and a 281-207 record overall. His background includes head coaching at Gardner-Webb and assistant roles under John Groce.
Next steps
The search appears to be in its final stage. Leiendecker is expected to announce results soon.
Filmogaz.com will continue to monitor developments as the process wraps up. Fans and alumni await an official hire.
